Students / trainees

Rural Clinical Training and Support

The Rural Clinical Training and Support (RCTS) program is the amalgamation of the Rural Clinical School and Rural Undergraduate Support and Coordination programs. This program continues to be delivered through the existing Rural Clinical Schools.

The RCTS program is designed to increase the rural medical workforce by enlisting Australian medical schools to deliver rural medical training, to recruit rural medical students, promote and encourage rural medical careers and increase opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The program also seeks to have a more immediate impact on the rural medical workforce by encouraging health professionals to take up rural academic positions, often through joint funding arrangements with local area health services.

The development of rural medical training infrastructure, including new educational facilities and student accommodation is also a major aspect of the program.

Rural Clinical Training and Support (RCTS) 2011-2014

Rural Clinical Training and Support (RCTS) 2011-2014 - Operational Framework

List of Rural Clinical Schools

There are currently 17 Rural Clinical Schools across Australia, managed by 16 Universities. Each Rural Clinical School has multiple training locations:

• Deakin University Rural Clincial School (external)
  Warnambool, Ballarat, Camperdown, Ararat, Colac, Horsham, Hamilton, Stawell and Daylesford.
• Flinders University Rural Clinical School (external)
  The Riverland region of South Australia (Renmark), Mount Gambier and the Hills Mallee Fleurieu regions, Warnambool.
• James Cook University Rural Clinical School (external)
  Mackay, Cairns, Atherton, Mt Isa, Thursday Island and surrounding regions.
• Monash University School of Rural Health (external)
  Traralgon, Moe, Sale, Bairnsdale, Mildura, Bendigo and surrounding regions.
• The Australian National University Rural Clinical School (external)
  Cooma, Goulburn, Bega, Young, Batemans Bay and surrounding regions.
• The Northern Territory Rural Clinical School (external) (through Flinders University)
  Alice Springs, Katherine, Gove and surrounding regions.
• The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia (external)
  Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Geraldton, Port Hedland, Broome, Albany, Karratha, Derby, Bunbury, Narrogin, Kununurra and surrounding regions.
• The University of Adelaide Spencer Gulf Rural Health School (external)
  Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, Minlaton, Kadina, Clare and surrounding regions.
• The University of Melbourne Rural Clinical School (external)
  Shepparton, Wangaratta, Echuca, Ballarat and surrounding regions.
• The University of Newcastle Rural Clinical School (external)
  Tamworth, Armidale, Moree, Taree and surrounding regions.
• The University of New South Wales Rural Clinical School (external)
  Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Griffith, Leeton and surrounding regions.
• The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School (external)
  Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and surrounding regions.
• The University of Sydney School of Rural Health (external)
  Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Broken Hill and surrounding regions.
• University of Notre Dame Australia (external) (Sydney Campus)
  Wagga Wagga, Ballarat and Lithgow
• University of Tasmania Rural Clinical School (external)
  Burnie and the North West region.
• University of Western Sydney (external)
  Lismore and Bathurst
• University of Wollongong Rural Clinical School (external)
  Nowra, Lismore, Leeton, Dubbo, Broken Hill, Bowral and surrounding regions.

More information

For more information on the Rural Clinical Training and Support program, please email health.workforce@health.gov.au