GOING rural could be a great career move for the next generation of Australian doctors, according to researchers from the University of Queensland.
In a landmark study, they found that the variety and opportunities presented by rural training may give medical students an important professional edge.
“Medicine is a competitive profession and this research shows that medical students and junior doctors need to be reassured that rural training actually advances your career,” CEO of Rural Health Workforce Australia, Greg Mundy said.
“The next generation is looking for quality experiences that will develop their skills and boost their career prospects,” Mr Mundy said.
“As a sector, we need to highlight the opportunities for hands-on learning, working in smaller teams and broader scope of practice. Going rural gives you all of that and more,” he said.
In an effort to get inside the heads of the future workforce, the UQ research team conducted in-depth interviews with 25 medical students and 41 junior doctors from Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. A common theme was that students were motivated by the relative advantages of positive rural clinical experiences.
The report found that while a number of factors contribute to the decision to relocate rural such as individual characteristics and personal and family considerations, the quality and duration of rural experiences was critical.
Likewise, there needed to be strong professional and social support in place. And good internet access for this generation was important to stay in touch with peers as well as for study, research and clinical support. Flexibility to train part-time was also rated highly.
The report, Understanding the Decision to Relocate Rural Amongst Australian Trained Urban Medical Students and Junior Doctors, was authored by Associate Professor Maria Zadoroznyj and Professor Bill Martin from the University of Queensland’s Institute for Social Science Research along with Associate Professor Wendy Brodribb from the university’s School of Medicine.
Rural Health Workforce Australia is dedicated to making primary health care more accessible for regional, rural and remote communities. It is the peak body for the not-for-profit Rural Workforce Agency network which attracts, recruits and supports rural health professionals. RHWA also administers the National Rural Health Student Network which has more than 9,000 members who belong to 28 university Rural Health Clubs.