Celebrating 25 years of commitment to rural health, education and community partnerships.
Coffs Harbour
Located on Gumbaynggirr Country, Coffs Harbour is the heart of the Coffs Coast, offering a relaxed coastal lifestyle alongside a thriving regional health and education community. Nestled between the Great Dividing Range and the Pacific Ocean, the city is surrounded by beautiful beaches, lush forests and plenty of opportunities to get outdoors.
For students, Coffs Harbour offers the best of both worlds — the convenience and opportunities of a regional city, with the relaxed atmosphere and natural beauty of the coast. It’s also a great base for exploring the wider Coffs Coast and surrounding communities.
Study in Coffs Harbour 1:59
Considering a rural health placement in Coffs Harbour? Nestled between lush rainforest and pristine beaches, Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast of NSW offers a unique blend of coastal living and hands-on rural health experience.
Learn more about Coffs Harbour
Located where the Great Dividing Range meets the Australian east coast, Coffs Harbour is a popular destination with plenty to see and do. Explore the region’s beaches, walking and cycling trails, or discover the surrounding rainforests and waterfalls. You can also get up close to nature at the Coffs Harbour Butterfly House or try something more adventurous at the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre.
Our Coffs Harbour office is located in the Specialist Medical Centre, next to Coffs Harbour Hospital and the state-of-the-art Coffs Harbour Health Campus. The campus provides a shared learning environment where you can study and undertake placements alongside students from other universities.
Students are also encouraged to make use of the Coffs Harbour City Library at Yarilla Place as a convenient space for study and learning.
Coffs Harbour Health Campus (Coffs Harbour Hospital) is the major referral hospital for the Coffs Network of the Mid North Coast Local Health District. With 292 beds, it provides a broad range of specialist medical and surgical services to communities across Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca.
Services include general medicine and surgery, emergency and planned theatre services, intensive and coronary care, obstetrics, paediatrics, oncology, palliative care, rehabilitation, stroke care, renal dialysis, mental health and a range of outpatient clinics.
Students can apply for subsidised accommodation in our six three-bedroom townhouses, conveniently located near Park Beach and local shops. A nearby bus stop provides public transport connections to the hospital and surrounding areas.
If student accommodation is unavailable or full, we may be able to subsidise the cost of alternative accommodation, helping make your rural placement experience more affordable. Detailed accommodation information is available in the Student Orientation Manual.
As a student with us, you’ll have opportunities to get involved in community engagement activities across the local region. Previous students in Coffs Harbour have participated in multicultural support groups, health careers expos and activities at the Goori After School Learning Centre, gaining valuable connections with the local community
What our students say
It feels like I'm on holidays! Life in Coffs Habour is very relaxing and laid back. Plus, each day of rural placement brings a new learning experience. I had a great mentor who organised some fantastic teaching sessions as part of my placement.”
Angela, Pharmacy
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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.