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Albury welcomes Cadets for first Cadet Weekend Trip for 2026
02nd March 2026
Last weekend, over 30 Rural Medical Cadets headed to Albury in the beautiful Riverina region of NSW for the first Rural Doctors Network Cadet Weekend Trip for 2026. The trip is designed to support rural doctors of tomorrow by bringing Cadets together for social and educational weekends away, exploring country New South Wales.
These journeys serve as an important opportunity for students to see first-hand the opportunities of the region, and all were impressed by the welcome they encountered, as well as the opportunity to network with current Cadets, Cadet alumni, and potential future colleagues.
The Cadets belong to the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship and Indigenous Cadetship program, run by Rural Doctors Network on behalf of the NSW Ministry of Health. The program financially supports medical students who are interested in undertaking a career in rural health in NSW, and who agree to undertake the two of the first three years of their hospital training in an eligible rural NSW hospital. Rural service can be undertaken in major NSW hospitals west of the Great Dividing Range including Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill and Albury.
The weekend began with a cultural tour led by Ruth Davys from Giilangyaldhaanygalang - Wiradjuri Storytellers, who guided Cadets along the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk on the banks of the Murray River. She shaped the walk and talk experience around how these future doctors can be strong allies to Aboriginal people in their careers.
“Yesterday was a nguyaguyamilang yiradhu, beautiful day for a walk with our future drs in training from the Rural Doctors Network, sharing the deadly yindyamarra sculpture walk, sculptures and stories,” Giilangyaldhaanygalang said in a post on Facebook.
That evening, over 20 locally based Cadets joined the group for dinner at the Astor Hotel, giving Cadets from all stages of the program a chance to get together and share stories, advice and a taste of Albury’s local cuisine.
Would it be a medical student trip without a park run? Bright and early on Saturday morning, Cadets gathered in the fresh morning air of the countryside to jog along the banks of the river, giving them a glimpse of what their morning routines could look like.
Albury Base Hospital welcomed Cadets for a tour of their facilities and a Q&A session with alumni Cadets and current Junior Medical Officer (JMO) Cadets, giving students the opportunity to ask the practical and burning questions about life as a junior doctor, support systems, opportunities as an intern and, importantly, the social and cultural aspects of living in a country town. Registrars and consultants also joined the panel to speak to the range of opportunities in Albury.
In an area described as 'always in season’, Cadets considering the move to Albury for their return of service will undoubtedly enjoy the plethora of natural offerings the region has, from water sports in the summer at the Hume Weir, to skiing at the nearby Snowy Mountains, cycling the rail trail in spring or enjoying the wine region in autumn.
The significance of fostering the future workforce in the early years of their careers through opportunities such as the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship program as well as the trips and events associated with it, is no better exemplified than by the retention rate of Cadets, over 60% of whom have continued practicing rurally, following the completion of their return of service in rural areas. The program recently celebrated its 35th year with the foundation of an alumni association.
The weekend concluded with Cadets being free to explore the region, from hitting the water for some exhilarating water skiing to browsing the fresh local produce at Harris Farm.
Reflecting on the journey, RDN’s Future Workforce Program Lead Eleanor Knight said these tours are an invaluable practical insight for Cadets into their future daily life, helping them navigate which country town will work best for them.
“The weekend trips take the students out of their uni campuses to immerse them in what country life has to offer. They are wonderful opportunities to gain valuable insight into what life is like in rural and regional NSW. The hands-on experience allows the students to explore different locations and helps them decide where they would like to start their medical careers, based on the best fit for their clinical and lifestyle needs."
Rural Doctors Network extends a warm thank you for the support of local medical administration teams and Cadets who took the time to highlight their local towns and hospital.
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