New class of medical students begin study at Shepparton’s University of Melbourne campus

The degree is offered as part of Murray-Darling Medical School Network and includes a collaboration between the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University to provide regional students an end-to-end rural medical pathway specifically aimed at retaining medical graduates in regional Australia.

All students entering the rural pathway must have previously lived for at least five years consecutively or 10 years cumulatively in a rural location.

University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health head Julian Wright said the rural pathway program had the potential to shape the industry landscape into the future.

“This program will change the rural medical workforce landscape as more students have the option to study medicine through our end-to-end delivery of the MD curriculum in a regional setting,” Prof Wright said.

“This is a really important initiative that is benefiting both the students and the rural communities in which they will practice. It is great to witness the development of these students as they become terrific medical practitioners.

“Importantly, we are seeing an increase in rural preference from our students, and we already have many University of Melbourne Rural Clinical School alumni working across regional Victoria.”

Twins Senita and Menita Jaji are both qualified pharmacists but decided to make the move to study medicine in Shepparton after having been exposed to Victorian rural life.

“Having lived and worked in rural Victoria, both my sister and I have experienced the sense of belonging to a community where you are valued. There is the potential to forge strong relationships within the local community,” Menita said.

“I believe rural medicine will be incredibly rewarding in the sense that I will be able to assist a community in their times of need and shortages, and help people access good quality health care regardless of their location,” Senita said.