Cadetship

Rural Doctors Network, on behalf of the NSW Ministry of Health, is offering cadetships to medical students with a strong intent to undertake a medical career in rural NSW. 

Successful applicants receive up to $15,000 per year for the final two years of their medical degree or for Indigenous students $30,000 spread throughout the course of their study. In return, they agree to undertake two of the first three years of their hospital training in an eligible rural NSW hospital.

In their final year of study, cadets apply for an intern position through the Rural Preferential Recruitment (RPR) process or Aboriginal Medical Workforce pathway administered by the Health, Education and Training Institute (HETI).

Rural service can be undertaken in major NSW hospitals including Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Taree, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill and Albury.

 

Eligibility and how to apply

Applications open on 3 July 2026 and close on 27 July 2026.

There are two types of cadetships available, to learn more and apply:

• Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students 
• Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship

 

Who are the cadets?

• Cadets are ambassadors for the future rural health workforce and the cadetship scheme.
• Cadets possess a strong understanding of the realities of rural medical practice and issues faced by rural communities in NSW.
• Cadets are committed to pursuing a career in rural medicine

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Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship Longitudinal Evaluation 2024

The Cadetship Program marked its 35th year in 2024 and has consistently proven effective in increasing the number of junior doctors in rural hospitals and in strengthening long‑term medical workforce recruitment across remote, rural and regional NSW.

A 2024 longitudinal evaluation found that 64% of surveyed former cadets were working in MM3–7 rural and remote areas—an increase of 16% since 2014 and 21% since 2004—with 25% in MM4–7 medium sized rural towns to very remote locations. The program also strongly shapes career pathways, with 42% of past cadets choosing primary care through General Practice or Rural Generalism.

You can read the full report and its recommendations below:

 

Related reading:

• Study confirms Rural Medical Cadetship provides long-term workforce pipeline for rural health

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Cadet stories

• Indigenous Cadet Shay-Lee Coulson's driving force to "increase the likelihood of a First Nations patient presenting to a First Nations doctor" 

• Cadet and final year medical student, Ellie Gundry tells RDN why she will never “not” be a cadet 
• 1000km RDN Cadet road trip takes rural doctors of tomorrow out beyond the ranges
• Cadet’s pursuit of medicine inspired by drive to break the poverty cycle   
• Meet RDN Cadet Morgan See 
• From an internship in Wagga Wagga to loving it so much she didn’t leave - meet former RDN Cadet Dr Rachael Fikkers   

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FIND OUT MORE

Email students@rdnhealth.org if you would like any more help learning about the exciting opportunities of a rural health career.

To receive information about events, programs and scholarships for students, subscribe to Rural Doctors Network's mailing list and select "Student Opportunities" as an interest: