Latest News - Path to success – RDN brings the country to Sydney with Rural Health Showcase for high schools

Last Monday 8 September, Rural Doctors Network (RDN) welcomed around 800 students, parents and teachers from more than 50 public, Catholic and independent high schools to the ICC, Darling Harbour, for RDN’s inaugural Rural Health Pathways Showcase.

RDN Article Image CaptionsBorders (17).png The event aims to help future-proof Australia’s rural health workforce, by encouraging city students to broaden their horizons and learn about career pathways and the rewarding opportunities available for health care careers in remote, rural and regional areas.

Having already expressed an interest in allied health, medicine, nursing, midwifery or Aboriginal health, the students from Years 9-12 were encouraged to ‘see it, try it and do it’ by participating in hands-on ‘day in the life of a health professional’ activities.

Students had the opportunity to talk to universities and health workforce agencies about study pathways and career opportunities and speak one-on-one with health students, recent graduates and health professionals about their journeys.

Guest speakers included RFDS Chief Medical Officer, A/Prof. Shannon Nott, Dr Matt McAlpine of Mount Beauty Medical Centre and Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr MP.

A world of opportunity:

When asked about his message to the youth in attendance, Dr McGirr said “Look for opportunities. There are challenges in rural health, but there are great opportunities. If you want to make a difference, rural health's the place for you.”

Listening in was Jacinta from Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt, who had her own insights on such challenges and rewards: "When my nan had brain cancer, she had to be transferred into the city, so they don't have those kinds of facilities in the country," she told RDN. "I think because you'll be able to help people out - and save lives - it's just a rewarding feeling."

RDN Article Image CaptionsBorders (26).png It was a full circle moment for Charles Sturt University final-year Med Student Cameron Martin, an RDN Indigenous Medical Cadet, who spoke on the panel alongside Sam Quarmby, Director of Nursing & Midwifery at Dubbo Health Service, and Rach Dewhurst, OT Team Leader at Canobalas Kids Health Orange:

“I think the first idea of medicine came to me from an event similar to this at home [in Tamworth] where I got to hear about all the amazing stuff you get to do,” Cameron said. “I hope that students take away from today the amazing opportunities that you can have in a regional area, that there's so much to do and that you're not missing out,” he said. “You get such a good exposure to a broad diseases and pathology... lots of hands-on experience that you're not able to get in a metropolitan area.”

Alex Boase, the Careers Advisor at St Luke’s Grammar School in RDN Article Image CaptionsBorders (22).png Dee Why was delighted to have brought students along. “I have so many students coming through wanting to be involved in health, and sometimes when you only look within your little area, the opportunities for that study aren’t quite there,” said Ms Boase.

“I think this really is giving them that understanding that just because you might not get into that pathway within Sydney… you can still follow the dream of wanting to get into a health profession.”

St Luke’s students Ruby and Lukina were duly impressed with the breadth of opportunities for a meaningful career that were on show. “I didn’t know too much about rural pathways and how much services were needed out in rural areas”, said Ruby. “Everyone should come along!”

“It really opens another eye,” Lukina added.

Inspiring the future workforce of rural health:

The inaugural event is the latest in a range of initiatives supported by RDN aimed at encouraging students into rural health careers.

Describing the Showcase as unique, RDN’s Future Workforce Manager, Chris Russell, said it was a fantastic opportunity to bring the country to the city and highlight all the amazing opportunities on offer!

“Fields of opportunity exist in healthcare well beyond the city skyline and we need to make sure students are aware of these opportunities and how rewarding they can be - both professionally and personally” he said.

"We're tapping into the desire for social justice that exists with some of the high school students in Sydney, as well as speaking to those boarding school students from rural backgrounds," Chris told NBN Television during the event. "44% of our cadets over the last 35 years have actually come from metropolitan backgrounds."

“We’re grateful to work alongside so many passionate organisations, universities, health workforce agencies and rural advocates to bring this idea to life, including more than 130 staff and representatives who turned up to inspire students and help make the event so successful,” Chris said.

This included 20 organisations that exhibited, 11 organisations and 3 health professionals who ran practical workshops or panel sessions, 11 universities, 10 peak bodies and 13 health professionals or students who participated as guest speakers.