Rural Student Placements Help Deliver Life-Saving Care at AgQuip
Supported by clinical supervisors, University of Newcastle students on rural placement helped deliver hundreds of health checks at the 2025 AgQuip Health Clinic, including one that led to the early detection and treatment of a potentially fatal melanoma.
A life-saving melanoma diagnosis made following a visit to the 2025 AgQuip Health Clinic is highlighting the important contribution University of Newcastle students make to the health and wellbeing of rural communities.
For Inverell contractor and Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association National President Ned Makim, a visit to the free health clinic at AgQuip led to the detection of an aggressive melanoma and surgery just days later.
Mr Makim attended the clinic while taking a break from exhibiting at AgQuip, where students from the University of Newcastle's Department of Rural Health were working alongside healthcare professionals to provide free health checks and health education to visitors.
During his assessment, staff identified a suspicious spot on his face and referred him for further investigation. Within days, a biopsy confirmed melanoma and Mr Makim underwent surgery the following week.
Reflecting on the experience, Mr Makim believes that decision to step into the clinic may have saved his life.
If you see a free health clinic, walk into it," Mr Makim said. "It's not actually about us. It's about your partner. It's about your kids. It's about your grandkids."
The AgQuip Health Clinic is a long-standing partnership between HealthWISE and the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health, bringing together students and healthcare professionals to improve access to healthcare in regional communities.
In 2026, more than 75 medicine, nursing and allied health students undertaking rural placements helped provide comprehensive health checks to around 400 AgQuip visitors under the supervision of experienced clinicians.
University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health Partnership Manager Allison Bone said stories like Mr Makim's demonstrate the value of rural student placements, both for student learning and community health outcomes.
"Student placements are about much more than developing clinical skills," Ms Bone said.
Our students are making a meaningful contribution to communities while gaining valuable experience in rural healthcare. The AgQuip Health Clinic provides an opportunity to learn alongside experienced professionals while helping improve access to healthcare for people who may not otherwise engage with health services.
Without students undertaking rural placements, initiatives like the AgQuip Health Clinic simply wouldn't be possible."
The clinic also provides students with valuable exposure to multidisciplinary healthcare and the unique challenges and opportunities associated with rural practice, helping strengthen the future rural health workforce.
For Mr Makim, the experience serves as a reminder that a simple health check can have life-changing consequences.
His story is also a powerful example of the impact students can have when they choose to undertake placements in rural communities, helping deliver essential healthcare services while developing the skills and experience needed for their future careers.
As communities across regional Australia continue to face barriers to healthcare access, programs like the AgQuip Health Clinic show how rural placements can benefit both students and the communities they serve, sometimes in ways that truly change lives.
Ned Makim's story was originally featured in The Land. Read the full article by Dakota Tait, "Health check saves a life" (3 September 2026) Source: https://www.theland.com.au/story/9337568/agquip-health-check-saves-contractors-life-from-melanoma/
Contact
- Allison Bone | Partnerships Manager
- Email: allison.bone@newcastle.edu.au
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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.