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Faculties and schools_
School of Rural Health (Dubbo/Orange)
Committed to developing the rural medical workforce
Established in 2001, we offer University of Sydney medical students the opportunity to live and study in a thriving regional community, while being supported by expert clinical, academic and professional staff.
Doctor of Medicine – Dubbo Stream
The University of Sydney offers the entire four-year Doctor of Medicine program at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo. The Doctor of Medicine - Dubbo Stream aims to attract Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and rural students to build our future rural medical workforce.
The Dubbo Stream is delivered in new state-of-the-art teaching facilities including anatomy teaching lab, learning studios and six-room simulation suite.
Extended rural placements at the School of Rural Health
University of Sydney medical students in their third or fourth year of study can undertake a one-year placement at the School of Rural Health in Orange. Extended rural clinical placements are only available to Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) students enrolled in the University of Sydney’s Doctor of Medicine.
Visit our clinical placements page for more information.
About the School of Rural Health (Dubbo/Orange)
We are a rural clinical school of the Sydney Medical School with locations in both Dubbo and Orange. Our aim is to contribute to the development of the rural medical workforce by providing training in an environment that delivers medical graduates and doctors with the aptitude, knowledge and skills to provide quality care for rural, regional and remote Australia.
Our school combines a network of medical facilities, including public and private hospitals, general practices and private specialist practices to provide staff and students with excellent patient and doctor access across a variety of patient scenarios, all within a friendly team of medical professionals and administrative staff. We have teaching, clinical and accommodation facilities in both Dubbo and Orange for students undertaking their study with us.
Our research
Our researchers conduct locally relevant and internationally significant research. We nurture researcher development and work with regional health services and the community to help understand, or ‘solve’ health problems. We pride ourselves on undertaking research and evaluation activities that reduce population health inequities and promote the rural health workforce.
Our research efforts therefore:
- are applied to practical problem solving,
- use both qualitative and quantitative research methods, and
- often include work with first-time researchers.
We collaborate and partner with health providers, community organisations and other universities on a range of research projects to inform and influence the development of strategies designed to ensure optimal health outcomes for the community.
As part of the MD Project block in third year, you will have the opportunity to conduct meaningful research that enhances your understanding of the benefits and challenges of rural health and contributes to the health and wellbeing of our rural communities.
Professor Catherine Hawke, Head of Clinical School
Western NSW Regional Training Hub
The Western NSW Regional Training Hub supports medical students and rural junior doctors throughout their studies and training in the region through a range of initiatives, including:
- Career and peer mentoring programs.
- Preparing a professional job application and Curriculum Vitae.
- Career information and individual career counselling sessions.
- Extracurricular skills and simulation workshops and courses.
- Providing scholarships for workshops and conferences.
- Conducting workshops in Western NSW to increase access to Continuing Professional Development opportunities.
Some helpful resources for your rural medical career include the Regional Medical Training website to explore regional specialist training opportunities across various disciplines and the Destination Medicine Podcast where doctors and medical students share their experiences of rural training and fulfilling rural careers.
The Hub is here to answer any questions that medical students or trainees may have about their career pathway. For more information, please see Western NSW Regional Training Hub or contact the Director, Linda Cutler, at linda.cutler@sydney.edu.au.
The Western NSW Regional Training Hub is funded by the Australian Government’s Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program.
Our hospitals
The newly redeveloped Dubbo Hospital is a major rural referral centre and acute care hospital in the region. Servicing about 15% of NSW and a population of approximately 160,000, the hospital has specialty units in areas including acute renal dialysis, coronary care, diabetes, emergency, intensive care, obstetrics, oncology, paediatrics, psychiatry and alcohol and drug treatment. Dubbo Hospital now has a Cardiac Catheter Laboratory providing diagnostic services for patients with chronic diseases.
The new Western Cancer Centre is a public cancer centre located at the Dubbo Hospital Campus. The Centre provides chemotherapy and radiation therapy, PET CT services and haematological and cancer genetic services to people living in Dubbo and Western NSW.
Dubbo Private Hospital is a medical and surgical hospital that services Dubbo and the surrounding catchment. It offers a comprehensive range of acute medical and surgical services and rehabilitation programs, with consulting rooms and on-site radiology and pathology services.
Orange Health Service is located at the heritage-listed Bloomfield campus and provides a range of health services including child and adolescence, oncology, geriatrics, rehabilitation, acute mental health, intensive care, emergency, high dependency, and extended care. Also located at the Orange Health Service campus are Bloomfield Hospital and the Central West Cancer Care Centre.
Bloomfield Hospital is a major mental health and drug and alcohol treatment facility offering inpatient/residential and outpatient treatment.
Dudley Private Hospital is a 57 bed facility that provides a comprehensive range of medical, surgical, rehabilitation and psychiatric services. The hospital has five operating theatres and one procedure room. Apart from general medical and surgical beds, there are 17 licensed rehabilitation beds and a 13 bed mental health unit, known as the Ramsay Clinic Orange.
Contact
Dubbo campus
Address
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4 Moran Drive PO Box 1043 Dubbo NSW 2830
Orange campus
Address
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1502 Forest Road PO Box 1191 Orange NSW 2800