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More Medical Scholarships for Rural Students

Eighty scholarships of $10,000 each will be offered to rural students to help them study medicine as part of the Federal Government's commitment to improve access and affordability of medical services in regional and rural Australia.

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27 November 2002

More Medical Scholarships for Rural Students

November 27, 2002 Eighty scholarships of $10,000 each will be offered to rural students to help them study medicine as part of the Federal Government's commitment to improve access and affordability of medical services in regional and rural Australia.

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, today announced the opening of another round of Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarships (RAMUS).

The $10,000 a year scholarship is aimed at assisting rural students who might otherwise be unable to study because of the added cost of accommodation, living and travel expenses, to pursue a career in medicine.

This is the fourth year the Rural Australian Medical Undergraduate Scholarships have been offered, with a total of 500 currently in operation.

Senator Patterson said the rural scholarships were an important part of the Government's programs to get more doctors to practise in regional and rural Australia.

Since 1996, around $2 billion has been spent on targeted rural health and aged care initiatives nationally.

"Financial hardship can be a serious deterrent to many country students who have to leave home to study medicine," said Senator Patterson.

"We inherited a situation where there was a national maldistribution of doctors, which reduced access and affordability of GP services, particularly in regional and rural areas. We are committed to addressing through initiatives such as the RAMUS scholarships."

Approximately 80 new scholarships are available to rural students currently enrolled or about to enrol as a full time medical students in an undergraduate or graduate medical course at an Australian medical school.

The scholarships are awarded on the basis of rural background and financial need. Rural background is defined as having lived in a rural or remote region of Australia for a minimum of five consecutive or eight cumulative years.

There has been a dramatic increase in the rural intake of medical schools. In 1996, only 8% of the intake were students from rural areas. In 2001, 25% of students came from rural areas.

RAMUS is administered by the National Rural Health Alliance. Applications remain open until 29 January 2003. Information on the application process is available by calling 1800 460 440 or at www.nrha.net.au.

Media Contact: Randal Markey, Media Adviser, 0417 694 520