Perth medical students begin year of regional training at Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance hospitals

Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance hospitals have welcomed Perth medical students this week as they begin a year of regional placement.

The Rural Clinical School students are in their second-last year of study at either the University of Western Australia, Curtin or Notre Dame universities, and can opt-in to do their training regionally in their final two years.

UWA student Kathryn Bentley said the program was great for inspiring young doctors to take their careers into the regions.

“We’re more likely to come back into a rural environment when we’re actually doctors and fill the gaps that are present in the healthcare system,” she said.

All medical students can also apply for the Australian Government’s bonded medical program, which subsidises the cost of their course in exchange for a three-year commitment to work regionally.

Curtin student Allyson Armstrong said she wanted to learn how different medical disciplines operated in a small hospital.

“I hope to learn more about rural health care and what it’s like in outback Australia,” she said.

Under the Rural Clinical School program, Perth medical students can preference a regional placement at one of 15 sites across WA.

Kalgoorlie Health Campus will have 13 students on placement, and Esperance Health Campus will have four.

Daymon Tuthill, who is doing a placement in Esperance, said the smaller town would allow him to have a lot more hands-on experience than he would in Perth.

“I thought that this would give me an opportunity to be able to develop more longitudinal patient relationships that extend throughout the community . . . that wouldn’t really be prevalent in more of a metro area,” he said.

“Also, this place is just amazing, great nature, the beaches obviously are incredible and the town itself is very welcoming.”