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Go Rural students "on the road again", visiting Central and Far Western NSW
13th June 2025
By Brielle Culpan
This year’s second Go Rural road trip set off Thursday 5 June, taking 20 healthcare students to Central and Far Western NSW, visiting Orange, Narromine, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Coonamble, Gilgandra and Dubbo.
The four-day journey, hosted by Rural Doctors Network (RDN) and funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA), caters to university students studying medicine, nursing and allied health, to gain insight into what the rural lifestyle has to offer future healthcare professionals. The students were able to visit local hospitals, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs), GP practices, community events and cultural sites along their journey.
RDN’s Future Workforce Program Lead Sam Zelinski, explains the purpose of the trip: “The Go Rural program allows students who may have limited exposure to rural or remote communities to experience them firsthand, and speak with those who live and work in these communities. This context is invaluable for them when making career decisions when graduating.
“I think a lot of students are aware that there are challenges to working in a rural setting, but most are often surprised by the numerous benefits which come from a career in these smaller communities - both professionally and in terms of lifestyle.”
Over the ranges
Day one began with an early morning departure from Sydney’s Central Station as the students set off for Orange, with a quick breakfast stop at Lithgow’s Tin Shed. Once they hit the country road and were out of the city, the excitement grew!
Western Virtual Hospital – Orange Hub (vCare) presented their virtual care facilities to the curious students, who had an immersive experience showcasing the virtual Emergency & Critical Care Service, Acute Patient Monitoring, virtualADULTS – regional hub, virtual Allied Health, and virtual Pharmacy services delivered to the communities and hospitals across the Western NSW Local Health District and beyond.
Meegan Connors, Director of Western Virtual, Dr Kate Porges, Clinical Director of Medical Services and Innovation, and Dianne Harvey, Virtual Allied Health Manager, accompanied the students and answered their questions on the logistics of the vCare system. First year University of Wollongong medical student Edan Pereira observed: “Having virtual care allows healthcare to extend the border of just a small town, it allows good medical care and patient-centred care into small rural towns without actually needing a physical doctor on the ground”. 
The group then headed to Orange AMS, where staff discussed their services and the importance of recognising diversity and culture in health, allowing for culturally safe conversations and environments. Next stop was Narromine and accommodation at the Stockman’s Inn, after a country pub feed at the Narromine United Services Club.
Narromine to Bourke
Day two continued the visits to medical facilities, popping into the Narromine Health Service for a tour of the 12 acute-bed community hospital with Health Services Manager Sanu T Joy. Dr Marina Parente joined the tour, explaining her role in the hospital whilst training to be a Rural Generalist through the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM) and how the presence of Rural Generalists in rural and remote communities will positively impact demand and inequity in healthcare.
The students were shown the new X-Ray room, set to open on 17 June 2025 following community fundraising for its refurbishment. The Health Service utilises the Virtual Rural Generalist Service and vCare, especially for after-hours care and leave coverage, so the minimal in-person staff can maintain a sustainable work-life balance. Next up, a visit to Narromine Shire Family Health Centre introduced the students to Dubbo local and GP Obstetrician Dr Kelly Bradley, who explained her varied role as a GP in a rural town, recalling her extensive career in health and community services.
Then, off to Bourke!
Students toured the local Bourke Community Garden, a social and health initiative developed in 2020, providing residents of the town access to fruit and vegetables, as well as a hub to socialise. After a brief tour of the North West Academic Centre and its student accommodation, Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service welcomed the students with a presentation on their services and a tour around the facility, reaffirming the requisite of building a rapport with the local community and listening to their social, cultural and health needs.
A quick visit to Back O’ Bourke Exhibition Centre told the students of the significant history of the town and the cultural importance of the Darling River. At end of day, the students sat down for dinner at the Port of Bourke Hotel and received a Welcome to Country from community leader Uncle Phil Sullivan, and an insightful conversation into his life and the importance of listening to Elders and local community members in their health journeys.
Charlene Noye, Director of Multidisciplinary Programs at North West Academic Centre, Leonie Brown, General Manager of Bourke Shire Council, Derrick Lin, Dietitian at NSW Outback Division of General Practice, and Kelly Lienesch, Local Connector of the Welcome Experience, all spoke at the dinner, answering the students’ questions about healthcare and lifestyle in Bourke.
Back from Bourke
With laces done up tight, the students began day three with Bourke’s Park Run, a great chance to build connections between each other and the residents.
An hour on the bus then took the students to Brewarrina, meeting Bradley Hardy for a tour of the Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum and the Brewarrina Fish Traps. The Museum exhibits numerous fossils and tools historically used by local Aboriginal people, and tells the history of Brewarrina and its remarkable fish traps, named by archaeologists as one of the oldest man-made structures in the world.
Jumping back on the bus with sandwiches made by Brewarrina’s Muddy Waters Café, the tour continued to Walgett. Here, they met with Amy Townsend, Mellissa Nathan and other members of the Walgett AMS at the Freedom Ride Park, where Walgett played a key role in the February 1965 event, followed by a visit to the AMS and a tour of their facilities.
Meeting a former Go Rural road tripper
A drive down to Coonamble saw the students meet with former Go Rural attendee Ella Cleary, who is now an Occupational Therapist at Coonamble AMS. Ella was accompanied by Occupational Therapist Amy, final year Western Sydney University med student Aaron, and paramedics Jack and Joel, who all told their tales of working and living in the rural town.
“It was really special to be able to engage with Ella, a previous Go Rural participant on this trip who was inspired by the program to pursue a career in rural health," said Go Rural Program Lead Sam Zelinski, "It was really great for the students to be able to hear from someone who had been in their exact position only a few years ago, and who was such a passionate advocate for the rural lifestyle and clinical work in this setting.”
"First rodeo"
Day three’s final event led the students to the Coonamble Rodeo!
For most students, this was indeed their first rodeo, and they had a blast watching the team roping, breakaway roping and the saddle bronc. Dusting off their boots, an hour drive took the group to Gilgandra for dinner at the Gilgandra RSL, and a night’s rest at the Gilgandra Motel. Breakfast was at Gilgandra’s Information Centre and the bus departed in the breezy morning to Dubbo. Here, the students met with Samantha Quarmby, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Jodi Watters, Director of Allied Health, and Dr Geoff Hardacre, Director of Medical Service, to tour Dubbo Health Service, exploring the “one stop shop” specialist clinic, cardiovascular unit, maternity ward, and the Western Cancer Centre, a newly developed section of Dubbo Base Hospital.
Rebecca Cotter, third year midwifery student at the University of Newcastle was particularly impressed by the maternity service: “The facilities were amazing, it was beautiful to see baths in all the birth suites. Interestingly, 55% of the women that birth at Dubbo Hospital are not from the Dubbo region…it was good to put all the pieces together and see, unfortunately, that most people have to travel to give birth.”
Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) was the last destination on the agenda, as the students had the privilege of chatting to Dr Jessica Kracht, a retrieval doctor for the Dubbo base. Dr Kracht explained the logistics of patient retrieval through the RFDS and the opportunity of communicating with local medical facilities, telehealth services, and larger metropolitan hospitals when required. The students enjoyed stepping onto the tarmac for a look inside the retrieval plane! The RFDS visitor centre refuelled the students with lunch, for the five-hour drive back to Sydney.
Journey of inspiration
After a jam-packed four days of experiencing what these towns have to offer, the Go Rural opportunity has fostered a positive and welcoming introduction for the future healthcare professionals, as they begin to consider a career in rural and remote health.
Jason Zhang, second year medicine student at University of Newcastle, spoke of his highlight of the Go Rural experience: “Hearing everyone’s lived experiences because most of the people have been in the community their whole life, or have moved and worked there for a few decades, so it is valuable to hear what they have been through. You don’t really get this experience in the city, so it’s very different than hearing about it in a lecture, or over video, and it was nice to ask them questions.”
First-year Wollongong University med student Alexander Dudley reflected that the tour had piqued an interest for everyone in a rural career: “It’s been a great journey, with lots of cultural highlights and the rural communities have really welcomed us.
“We’ve learned about some of the challenges of working in the bush - like the doctors shortage - but also some of the great strengths like the relationships health care professionals build with the community in country towns.”
Keep an eye out on Go Rural’s next trip later in the year by subscribing to our newsletters Monday Message and Student Opportunities as well as following RDN on Instagram and Facebook.
Go Rural is funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) and administered by Rural Doctors Network (RDN).
Read more:
- Outback opens doors for future health workers - The Western Herald
- Medical students Go Rural - Western Plains App
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