The Bonded Medical Program is part of the Stronger Rural Health Strategy and aims to provide more doctors in areas of workforce shortage in regional, rural and remote Australia. This ensures that Australia’s medical workforce is well distributed, flexible and targeted to areas of most need.

The Program provides a Commonwealth Supported Place in a medical course at an Australian university. In return, bonded participants commit to work in an eligible regional, rural or remote area for up to 3 years after completion of their medical course. This is called a ‘return of service obligation’ (RoSO). Participants from legacy schemes can also opt-in to the Program.

The Bonded Medical Program is available to Australian citizens and permanent visa holders only.

Up to 6 places are set aside each year for University of Newcastle Pathways students to be admitted into the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (Joint Medical Program). If you are an Open Foundation student, this entry scheme could be for you.

Students who have graduated from Newstep or Open Foundation in the past 5 years, completed an additional 12 months study, and meet the criteria will also be eligible for this pathway.

Find out more about applying as a Pathways student

The Joint Medical Program Communities Entry List (CEL) aims to increase the number of JMP students who reside in the Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid-North Coast Local Health Districts.

If you can prove that you currently reside (i.e. in the year of application) in either the Hunter New England (HNE), Central Coast (CC) or Mid-North Coast (MNC) Local Health Districts AND have resided in that area for at least five years consecutively or ten years cumulatively, you may be eligible to apply.

To be eligible for the CEL, you must:

• lodge all three applications outlined in the JMP application process
• choose the rural option when you complete the JMP direct university application IF you reside in a rural area (MM2-7)
• satisfy the minimum academic requirement for admission to the JMP
• satisfy the personal assessment qualities (UCAT ANZ, MSA and PQA) as outlined in the JMP selection process
• provide a statement from a community lead verifying that you have resided in the HNE, CC or MNC LHD for at least five years consecutively or ten years cumulatively
• provide evidence of a current home address in the HNE, CC or MNC LHD
• school leavers must be completing Year 12 at a high school in the HNE, CC or MNC LHD
• be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident; New Zealand citizens are ineligible

Applicants who meet all the eligibility criteria for the CEL will be invited to interview if they meet a further lower UCAT threshold score (compared to applicants from other areas in Australia.)

NB. This lower UCAT score is determined following the UCAT results of all applicants being made available to the JMP.

The Joint Medical Program welcomes applications from school leavers as well as those who have either commenced or completed other tertiary study, both onshore or offshore. See here for further details.

Each year a certain number of places are set aside for admission into the program for applicants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Currently there are 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in the Joint Medical Program. To date, over 145 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors have graduated from our program.

There are different entry requirements for students who are applying for entry via this pathway. You're not required to lodge the online Joint Medical Program direct university application and aren't required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ).

To be eligible for consideration for admission to the JMP as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you must:

• submit an application to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) by 31 October 2025
• establish your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island status with the University of Newcastle
• undertake a day of testing for the Multiple Skills Assessment and Personal Qualities assessment
• attend a series of pre-admission activities, which will be held over a one week period 1 to 5 December 2025

Find out more about applying as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student.

The Regional Excellence Pathway is available to current school leavers who have completed Year 12 in the footprint of the JMP (Hunter New England or Central Coast Local Health Districts) and attain an ATAR of 99.00 or higher.

• Those eligible can be offered an interview without the requirement of the UCAT ANZ, as an exception.
• Applicants must have listed the University of Newcastle in their UAC preferences.
• Eligibility is restricted to the intake year immediately following their Year 12 / HSC or IB year.  Any further HSC or IB subject enrolments or alterations to the ATAR in subsequent years will not be considered, and applicants will not be eligible for secondary assessment.

For admission in 2026, up to 10 entrants who are currently health professionals working in the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) rural footprint, will be eligible to apply for the Regional Health Professional Pathway (RHP).  Eligibility criteria and admission process are outlined below.

To be eligible for the RHP:

• Professional Qualification: Candidates must hold a Bachelor degree (minimum) in a specified healthcare profession (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Paramedic, Pharmacy).
• Recent Work Experience: Candidates must have worked as a healthcare professional in the last two years and be registered with the appropriate professional body (AHPRA).
• Rural Residency: Candidates must have lived and worked in their health profession in an MM 3-7 area within the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) footprint for at least two years.

This pathway will recruit rural healthcare workers, and evidence required for admission includes evidence of professional qualifications, recent work experience, and potential for success in a medical training pathway.

To apply for the RHP:

• apply through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) by 31 August 2025.
• apply directly to the Joint Medical Program via the form below by 31 August 2025.

Documentation:

• Evidence of healthcare qualification
• Evidence of current AHPRA registration in relevant profession (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Paramedic)
• Evidence of rural residency in MM 3-7 area of the Hunter New England Local Health District  footprint via submission of the JMP Verification form
• Evidence of recent employment in a relevant healthcare role e.g. statement from employer which must be on company letterhead, including your job title, period served etc.  Personal references , payslips or offers of employment will not be accepted.

Interview and Assessment of Motivation:

• Applicants will be invited to complete the Multiple Skills Assessment
• Requirement for a UCAT ANZ score will be waived for applicants through this pathway
• Applicants must submit a written application (800 word limit) to the JMP in response to the following selection criteria:
  • Provide evidence of genuine rural career commitment and ambition and/or for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants your connection with community and country in the JMP rural footprint
  • Provide evidence of understanding rural career opportunities
  • Provide evidence of modelling positional professional behaviours
  • Provide a written reference from a clinical or professional supervisor who can attest to their commitment to and interest for future rural practice

The Rural and Remote Admissions Scheme aims to increase the number of students from rural and remote locations being admitted into our program. Our target is to see 30% of students in the program from rural and remote locations (18 at the University of New England and 33 at the University of Newcastle).

If you're successful in gaining entry through this scheme, there will be a greater expectation for you to complete clinical placements within a rural area.

If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident and you can prove you have resided for at least five years consecutively or ten years cumulatively in a rural and/or remote location, you may be eligible to apply.

If you're considering applying for a position under RRAS, please carefully read and ensure you understand the information provided in the RRAS information document and the Joint Medical Program Prospectus. These documents contain important information regarding your requirements and responsibilities under RRAS.

To be eligible for the RRAS, you must:

• lodge all three applications outlined in the Joint Medical Program application process, choosing the rural option when you complete the JMP direct application
• satisfy the minimum academic requirement for admission to the Joint Medical Program
• satisfy the personal assessment qualities (UCAT ANZ, MSA and PQA) as outlined in the JMP selection process
• provide a statement from a rural community leader verifying that you have resided in a rural or remote location for at least five years consecutively or ten years cumulatively
• be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident; New Zealand citizens are ineligible

Applicants who meet all the eligibility criteria for the RRAS will be invited to interview if they meet a lower UCAT threshold score (compared to non-rural applicants).

NB. This lower UCAT score is determined following the UCAT results of all applicants being made available to the JMP.

Applicants applying on the basis of secondary examination results (that is, applicants who have not completed one full-time year - 1 EFTSL - of tertiary studies) and who have completed their Year 12 examination at a school in a designated rural or remote location in Australia, regardless of the year the examination was undertaken, will be considered for entry under the Rural Bonus Scheme. Determination of eligibility for the Rural Bonus Scheme will be based on the address (including street and postcode) of the high school attended.

The JMP uses the Modified Monash Model (MMM) to determine a school's rural or remote status.  Schools located in areas classified as MM2 to MM7 will be considered to be rural or remote.  Applicants are able to assess their eligibility for the Rural Bonus Scheme by entering their school’s street address (not PO Box) in the MMM locator map.

Applicants who are eligible to be considered under the Rural Bonus Scheme will be assessed as having satisfied the minimum academic requirement if their ATAR is 85 or greater (rather than the standard minimum requirement of 94.3) – refer Academic Eligibility.