After four years of study, the first cohort of students from the Doctor of Medicine (MD) 鈥 Dubbo听Stream听鈥撎齣s听about to听graduate and听make its听mark across regional and rural听Australia听as country doctors. The听first tranche of graduates from the 24-student intake听have听completed听their degree in Dubbo, learning not just the science of medicine, but the art of practicing in country communities.
The Dubbo Stream was created to address a critical need: more doctors in rural and remote areas. Developed under the Australian Government鈥檚 Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network (MDMSN), the program provides students with immersive clinical experiences across western NSW, giving them firsthand understanding of rural health challenges and the rewards of working outside metropolitan centres.
Dean of the听Faculty of Medicine and Health,听Professor John Prins,听said: 鈥淭his is a proud moment for our University and the Dubbo community. Our MD graduates have spent four years living,听studying听and working in听rural NSW, and听many are听now stepping into roles that will directly听benefit听rural and听regional communities. The Dubbo Stream was designed to grow a听rural听medical workforce, and听it鈥檚听incredibly rewarding to see that vision听will听soon become a reality.
鈥淭hese students have done something听special听鈥撎齮hey鈥檝e听trained as doctors听in the region, and now many are staying to serve the communities that supported them. It shows just how powerful local training can be in building a strong, sustainable rural medical workforce,鈥澨齭aid听Professor Prins.听
鈥淲hen we launched the Dubbo Stream, our goal was to help more students study medicine close to home and, in turn, strengthen healthcare in rural Australia. Seeing this first cohort graduate听is proof that this model works,鈥 he said.听
Head of School and Dean of听the听Sydney Medical School听Professor Jane Bleasel听said: 鈥淔rom their first day in Dubbo, these students听weren鈥檛听just studying medicine, they were living it.听They鈥檝e听been embraced by the community, mentored by local doctors, and seen firsthand the difference that continuity of care makes in rural towns. That connection to place and people is something you听can鈥檛听replicate in the city.
鈥淥ur graduates have learned medicine in the same communities where听they鈥檒l听now be making a difference.听They鈥檝e听developed strong ties with local health services,听schools听and families, and that sense of belonging is what keeps doctors working in the bush.听It鈥檚听been inspiring to see them grow into part of the fabric of western NSW,鈥 she said.听
Meet the next generation of rural health leaders
The Dubbo听stream gives students the chance to complete their MD entirely in a regional setting, supported by modern facilities and clinical placements at the redeveloped Dubbo Hospital. The curriculum goes beyond textbooks, immersing students in rural life, building community connections, and teaching them how to deliver health services where access can be limited.
Many of the graduates are stepping straight into local and regional roles, returning to the communities that raised them or heading to towns that need their skills. Most have deep rural roots. Some grew up on farms, others in small country towns, and a few have come full circle after studying in the city听鈥撎齛ll听bringing with them fresh perspectives and a commitment to country practice.听
Liam Morrissey
Growing up in听Coonabarabran听NSW,听Liam Morrissey听was acutely aware of the healthcare听challenges听faced听by rural Australia, including limited access to doctors and having to travel long distances to access medical and specialist care.听
He came to Dubbo to complete his MD after completing a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology at UNSW and seven years working in cities, in the occupational health and workers compensation sectors. The doctors who taught and supervised him during his degree cemented his commitment to rural medicine.听
鈥淪eeing these doctors in their roles and in the community, as well as the lifestyles they're able to have, has furthered my passion to pursue rural medicine,鈥 he said.
Liam will remain in Dubbo next year, taking up a two-year internship at Dubbo Hospital听with plans to continue training as a GP and a commitment to working in a regional or rural area.听听
鈥淚 really enjoy the freedom and pace of being back in rural NSW; the ability to have more space and more time in the day,鈥 he said.
Josie Cross
Also taking up an internship at Dubbo Hospital next year,听Josie Cross听joined the Dubbo Stream after finishing her Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree in Brisbane.听
Originally from Grafton NSW, Josie knows firsthand how limited and inaccessible healthcare听can be听in rural areas.听
鈥淭he downstream effects of this inequity, especially in mental health, were evident in the people around me, and the impact on my peers and wider community was profound,鈥 she said.听鈥淭hese experiences have shaped how I view healthcare and have听motivated me to pursue medicine with the intention of serving communities that have been overlooked for far too long.鈥
They鈥檝e been embraced by the community, mentored by local doctors, and seen firsthand the difference that continuity of care makes in rural towns.
Professor Jane Bleasel
Head of School and Dean of the Sydney Medical School
George Smith
Hailing from听Warragul, Victoria,听George Smith听followed听the听example set by his parents听鈥 both doctors who chose to live and work regionally 鈥撎齜y听electing听to study medicine.听听
George felt studying in Dubbo enabled a hands-on experience not always available to future听doctors听training in the city.
鈥淚t's听pretty special听to look back on a four-year journey of medical education that has taken me to far corners of rural and remote Australia.听I now have an听opportunity to give back to the regional communities who helped train me,鈥澨齢e听said.
He听said听the local community also welcomed his involvement in a life outside of study, especially in the local sporting scene.
George will take up an internship at Ballarat Base Hospital next year, alongside his partner and fellow听Doctor of Medicine Dubbo Stream graduate听Lauren Wild.
Lauren Wild
Lauren, originally from the coastal town of Burnie, Tasmania, also has a strong connection to rural life. The two met as biomedical science undergraduates at Monash University in Melbourne, actively seeking听training programs in rural areas when applying to study medicine.
Rural-based medical training helped Lauren to appreciate the flexibility and range of thinking听required听to work as a rural practitioner.听
鈥淥ur classroom and hospital tutors听demonstrated,听by听example, their broad knowledge of the many aspects of听medicine听required听to practice rurally. Exposure to the challenges of truly remote medical care has prepared us for our internships,鈥澨齭aid听Lauren.
Hero image: George Smith and Lauren Wild. Credit: Lauren Murphy
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