Celebrating 25 years of commitment to rural health, education and community partnerships.
About us
Our mission is to create healthier communities in regional and rural NSW.
We work alongside communities to grow a skilled, connected and compassionate rural health workforce. We support students and health professionals across Medicine, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Medical Radiation Science, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Speech Pathology, Mental Health and more to learn, practice and thrive in regional, rural and Indigenous contexts.
Our purpose
There is a crucial need for accessible healthcare in non-metropolitan areas. Our purpose is to help strengthen local services by training and nurturing a workforce that is equipped, confident and committed to rural practice.
We are funded through the Australian Government through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program, which enables students in medicine, nursing and allied health to train in rural and remote locations. Through this program, we also support continuing professional development, research activity and collaborations with local health services.
Our work spans a significant region across Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Inverell, Moree, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Taree. We welcome students from all Australian universities to complete rural placements within our footprint.
View our 2025 Year in Review
Our work
Our strategic plan focuses on four key themes:
- Improving rural health
- Enriching student experiences
- Shaping graduate destinations
- Supporting the rural health workforce
By supporting placements, delivering education and advancing research in rural settings, we help reduce health disparities, strengthen local services and create meaningful learning experiences that inspire careers in rural practice.
- Our footprint covers approximately 20% of the land area of NSW, including key centres such as Tamworth, Armidale, Taree, Inverell, Moree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.
- We support undergraduate placements for allied health, nursing and medicine students from all Australian universities, not just our University.
- Our domestic students on rural placement are eligible for accommodation support or subsidies.
Our services
We arrange and support high-quality rural placements: across our footprint you’ll find on-site academic support, accommodation options or subsidies, and exposure to real-world rural health challenges.
Whether you’re a first-year student or nearing graduation, our pathways help you connect the dots between your coursework, rural experience and a future career in regional health.
We believe in breaking down silos - students from different health-disciplines learn together, collaborate in rural settings and build the teamwork skills that matter most when you’re working in regional communities.
We partner with local organisations, schools, sporting groups and Indigenous communities to ensure our work is grounded, relevant and meaningful.
We also support current practitioners through professional learning and research opportunities, helping build local workforce capability in rural settings.
We are committed to research that matters - investigating rural health challenges, informing policy, shaping service delivery and ultimately improving health and wellbeing in regional NSW.
Our work honours and upholds the rights, knowledge and aspirations of Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands within our footprint - including Anaiwan, Gumbaynggirr, Kamilaroi, Birpai & Biripi Nations.
We actively partner in cultural-safety projects, Indigenous health initiatives and community-led programs.
Our North West NSW Regional Training Hub supports the journey of future and current rural doctors - from early student placements through to specialist training.
Working in partnership with local health services across Armidale, Tamworth and Taree, the Hub helps strengthen rural training pathways by:
- Creating and supporting integrated training opportunities in regional and rural areas
- Identifying workforce needs and working with services to address shortages
- Providing career guidance for students and junior doctors interested in rural practice
- Supporting doctors to become clinical supervisors
- Ensuring access to ongoing professional development and networking opportunities
As part of Australia’s Integrated Rural Training Pipeline for Medicine, our Hub is funded through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program and plays a key role in building a strong, sustainable rural medical workforce.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.