An independent review commissioned by the Department of Health has shown that one of Australia’s key rural training programs is providing significant opportunities and rewarding experiences for health students in rural communities.
Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton said the independent Evaluation of the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) showed the program had successfully supported rural clinical training experiences for students across a range of health disciplines for the past 20 years.
Mr Coulton said the RHMT program played a key role in supporting health students to train, work and stay in rural and remote locations.
“We know greater exposure to rural training opportunities leads to more doctors and health professionals choosing rural careers and the RHMT program is a critical to achieving this,” Mr Coulton said.
“The evaluation found the program is of significant educational value, provides students with rewarding experiences in rural communities and is an important contributor to addressing rural health workforce shortages across Australia,” he said.
“The review also demonstrates the capacity of universities to provide students with high quality clinical rural training opportunities.”
Mr Coulton said the review found the program supported the social and economic strength of rural communities.
“For every dollar spent under the program, another dollar is generated in the local economy,” he said.
“This evaluation reaffirms the value of the RHMT program to increase the number of health professionals working in the bush,” he said.
The independent 287-page final report can be accessed on the Department of Health’s website at this PS News link.