Our Background

On the 1st September 2012 the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) and Rural Clinical Training and Support (RCTS) became the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health, incorporating both the UDRH and RCTS programs under one umbrella department.

University Department of Rural Health Program, Northern NSW

The University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) program was first established in 2002 with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of regional, rural and Indigenous communities within the New England, North West Slopes and Plains, Liverpool Plains, Upper Hunter Valley and Manning River regions of NSW.

The UDRH program supports student placements in the disciplines of Medical Radiation Science, Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology.

Rural Clinical Training and Support Program

In July 2006, the RCS program commenced in Tamworth and Taree.  The program continued to grow rapidly through 2006 to 2011.  In July 2012, the new RCTS program commenced.  Though many resources are co-located with the UDRH, the RCTS is funded separately specifically for students studying medicine. The aim of RCTS is to have 25% of the graduating class of the Joint Medical Program spending a minimum of one year of their clinical training in rural settings.

Students of the Joint Medical Program have the opportunity to complete the last half of their undergraduate studies in a rural setting. RCTS has recruited clinical academic staff in key areas and has obtained additional funding to ensure that students who choose to study in a rural setting receive the highest quality experience that is possible.

The overall aims of both programs include:

• Ensuring all academic and clinical training opportunities within the region are identified and utilised for undergraduate and postgraduate students from all health disciplines;
  
  
• Enhancing health professional education and development across the region;
  
  
• Increasing the professional standing of health care professionals working in the region;
  
  
• Improving the standard of health care received by the region's Indigenous population; and
  
  
• Promoting inter-disciplinary health research and development across the region.
  
  

 Our Partners