The challenges of attracting doctors to rural areas has long been an issue for many country communities.

The Rural Doctors Network set out to address the problem, with the support of NSW Country Women’s Association and some local councils.

Narrabri Shire Council has long been a supporter of the program to introduce medical students to country life and students who have come to the shire over the years have reported that the welcome they received and the professional and lifestyle experiences and opportunities in the country were compelling reasons to move to regional NSW when they complete their training.

Students must demonstrate motivation, and a real interest in rural practice to participate in the Rural Doctors’ program.

Narrabri Shire Council organises the placement of students. During their two week tenure in the shire in the university holidays, the two current medical student visitors Rory Maguire and Marnix Bakker will be introduced to local health professionals and services by the shire’s community development officer Marie Labonte.

Council’s general manager Stewart Todd said the program allowed selected medical students to experience a rural lifestyle as part of their training which can then influence their future career pathway.

“Council is very supportive of this program as it gives scholarship holders the opportunity to discover the benefits of living in a country community which then has the potential to boost our rural workforce,” Mr Todd said.

Studies conducted by the Rural Doctors’ Network have shown that more than a third of past scholarship recipients had spent their first and second postgraduate years in a non-metropolitan hospital and a quarter of respondents were now working in a rural or regional area.

“These figures are a positive reinforcement of Narrabri Shire Council’s support of the scholarship program as a sponsor and host,” Mr Todd said.

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