Updated June 2017

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS OF RURAL HEALTH:

CLINICAL PLACEMENTS IN RURAL AND REMOTE AUSTRALIA FOR

HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS

The Australian Rural Health Education Network (ARHEN)

ARHEN is the peak body for Australia’s University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) which are

located in every State and the NT.

What are UDRHs?

Each UDRH is a leader in multidisciplinary rural health education, research and the development of

innovative service models.

A key role of UDRHs is to coordinate rural and remote clinical placement opportunities for

health science students in locations across Australia.

UDRHs are the only rurally based academic facilities that are multidisciplinary, work at

undergraduate and postgraduate levels and with the existing workforce. UDRHs focus on expanding

and enhancing the rural and remote health workforce through multidisciplinary education and

training, research, professional support and service development.

AN OVERVIEW OF UDRH STUDENT PLACEMENT FACILITIES AND SUPPORT

FOLLOWS. PLEASE CONTACT INDIVIDUAL UDRHs FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

2

UDRH DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Queensland

Location of Main Office:

Mount Isa, Qld

Website:

www.jcu.edu.au/mount-isa-centre-for-

rural-and-remote-health

Student Information and

Applications:

www.jcu.edu.au/mount-isa-centre-for-

rural-and-remote-

health/education/student-clinical-

placement

Email:

micrrh-

studentplacements@lists.jcu.edu.au

Phone: 07 4745 4538 or

07 4545 4500

Mount Isa office

Gail Whebell

www.mountisaplacements@jcu.edu.au

Central West Office:

Longreach

Peter Coombes peter.coombes@jcu.edu.au

Phone: 07 658 4711 or

0400 300 267.

Medicine, Nursing,

Midwifery, Pharmacy,

Physiotherapy,

Occupational Therapy,

Physicians Assistants,

Mental Health

(Psych/Social Work),

Nutrition, Veterinary

Science & Dietetics, Speech

Therapy, Paramedics and

Dentistry students

Accommodation at any of the

placement sites within this

region of 380,000 sq. kms is

at a minimal cost to

students. If the student does

not hold a scholarship that

covers travel, the cost of

travel from Mount Isa to an

outlying site is covered by

the UDRH.

The main outreach sites

include Normanton,

Cloncurry, Boulia, Karumba,

Julia Creek and Richmond.

The fee is approximately $80

per week in 2017.

Students placed in the

Central West travel directly

to those sites which includes

Barcaldine, Blackall,

Longreach and Winton.

3

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

University Centre for Rural Health - North Coast, NSW

Location of Main Office:

Lismore, NSW

Website: www.ucrh.edu.au

Student Information and Applications: https://clin-

ed.ucrh.edu.au/clinical-placements-

north-coast

Email: studentcoord@ucrh.edu.au

Phone: 02 6620 7570

All health disciplines

including Medicine,

Nursing, Pharmacy and a

range of allied health

disciplines (Occupational

Therapy, Dentistry,

Physiotherapy,

Speech Pathology,

Dietetics, Radiography,

Medical Imaging and

Radiography, Podiatry and

Social Work).

The UCRH provides low cost

accommodation for students

at sites across the region. This includes Lismore,

Ballina, Grafton and

Murwillumbah.

A service fee of $70 per

week applies to each student

accessing UCRH

accommodation. Australian

students who source their

own accommodation may be

eligible for a subsidy of up to

$70 a week (this subsidy is

not available for international

students).

UCRH provides access to an

extensive educational

program, cultural awareness

training, computer lab and

simulation facilities, social

events and student support .

4

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health, NSW

Location of Main Office:

Tamworth, NSW

Website:

www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/heal

th-medicine/drh/

Student Information and

Applications:

www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/heal

th-medicine/drh/for-

students/placement-options.html

Email: studentplacementstamworth@newc

astle.edu.au

Phone: 02 6755 3500

Medicine, Nursing,

Occupational Therapy,

Nutrition and Dietetics,

Physiotherapy, Pharmacy,

Speech Pathology,

Diagnostic Radiography,

Nuclear Medicine Science,

Social Work.

From 2018 - $80 per week is

charged for all domestic

placements using student

accommodation in

Tamworth, Armidale, Coffs

Harbour, Port Macquarie and

Taree. Free accommodation

for domestic students may be

available in Moree.

Additional accommodation is

available at Health Services

Nurses Quarters if primary

accommodation is full.

Where UoN DRH has no

accommodation, including

smaller sites within the

footprint areas, domestic

students may be eligible for a

a $70 a week allowance.

Comprehensive information

is available via the website.

5

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Broken Hill UDRH, NSW

Location of Main Office:

Broken Hill, NSW

Website:

www.sydney.edu.au/medicine/drh

Student Information and

Applications:

http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/drh/pl

acements/index.php

Email: FWLHD-

UDRHStudentProgram@health.nsw.

gov.au

Phone: 08 8080 1200

Medical, Nursing,

Occupational Therapy,

Nutrition and Dietetics,

Physiotherapy, Pharmacy,

Speech Pathology, Medical

Imaging, Audiology,

Podiatry, Orthoptics,

Psychology, Social work.

Broken Hill UDRH provides free

high standard accommodation for

all health related placement

students in Broken Hill and its

satellite centres of Wilcannia,

Menindee, Wentworth, Bourke and

Brewarrina.

Each student has a self- contained

bedroom (some with ensuites) with

shared communal facilities, eg

living area, kitchen and bathrooms

with access to wireless internet

services.

All placements attract a $25 per

week fee.

While on placement students have

access to a computer lab and well

resourced health library. Students

are also invited to participate in

locally organised weekly ENRICH

multidisciplinary teaching

sessions. Pastoral care, support and

cultural awareness sessions are

also provided for students.

Please refer to the Broken Hill

UDRH website for more info:

www.sydney.edu.au/medicine/drh

6

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria

Location of Main Office:

Shepparton, Ballarat and

Wangaratta, Victoria

Website:

www.goingruralhealth.com.au

http://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/sch

ool-structure/rural-health

Student Information and

Applications: www.goingruralhealth.com.au

Student Accommodation

Information:

http://www.ruralhealth.unimelb.ed

u.au/for%20students/accommodati

on/index.html

Email: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

Phone: 03 5823 4579.

Medical, Nursing and Allied

Health

UOM Nursing, and Allied

Health (Dentistry, Social

Work, Physiotherapy,

Audiology, Speech

Pathology, Optometry,

Psychology) are supported in

accommodation costs; fees

waived as a DRH bursary.

Accommodation sites

include Ballarat, Shepparton

and Wangaratta.

For students external to

UoM, accommodation is

subsidised and/or financial

assistance is provided.

Domestic students pay $50

per week.

International students pay

$180 per week (not

subsidised). Students may be

eligible for a

travel/accommodation

bursary- see www.goingruralhealth.com.au

Accommodation is self-

contained, with your own

bedroom, shared facilities

and access to computer lab

or wireless internet services

(EduRoam) library and bike

hire service.

7

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Monash University Department of Rural Health, Victoria

Locations (Victoria): Bairnsdale

Mildura

Moe

Sale

Traralgon

South East Gippsland

Warragul

Wonthaggi

Website: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/srh

/mudrih/accommodation.html

Student Information and

Applications: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/srh

/accommodation.html

Email:

MUDRIH.Inquiries@monash.edu

Phone: 03 5128 1022

All health disciplines

including,

Dentistry, Dietetics,

Medicine,

Nursing/Midwifery,

Occupational Therapy,

Paramedic, Pharmacy,

Physiotherapy,

Podiatry, Psychology,

Radiotherapy, Speech,

Social Work, Social

Welfare and

Psychology.

Finding somewhere to stay is

a big part of placement and

we can help. But we offer a

lot more than a roof over

your head – if you’re staying

near one of our main

teaching sites you’ll also

have access to libraries,

student lounges and

Eduroam wifi.

Accommodation includes

college style and houses in

local communities. All

accommodation is fully

furnished. A fee of $50 a

week applies to each student.

Further links and

information is at

http://www.med.monash.edu

.au/srh/

8

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Deakin Rural Health, Victoria

Location of Main Office: Warrnambool, Victoria

Website: www.deakinruralhealth.com.au

Student Information and

Applications:

http://www.deakinruralhealth.com.

au/v3-student-support/

Email: drhstudentofficer@deakin.edu.au

Phone: 03 5563 3035

All health professions In 2017, Deakin nursing and

allied health students can

access financial assistance to

help meet the cost of their

clinical placement.

Students who successfully

complete a rural placement

longer than 4 weeks may

qualify for a one-off $100

payment and, if living in

residence provided by Deakin,

also receive a $60 a week

allowance (from the 5th week

onwards).

9

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Flinders Rural Health South Australia

Location of main office:

Mount Gambier, SA

Website:

www.flinders.edu.au/ruralhealthsa

Student information and

applications:

www.greaterhealth.org/students

Email:

Student.support.rhsa@flinders.edu.au

Phone

08 8726 3912

All health professions Subsidised accommodation is

available at Mount Gambier

and several other SA towns for

students who are on placements

of two weeks or longer.

See

www.greaterhealth.org/students

for more information

10

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania

Location of Main Office: Launceston, Tasmania

Website:

http://www.utas.edu.au/rural-

health/

Student Information and

Applications: http://www.utas.edu.au/rural-

health/quick-links/student-

resources

Email: rural.health@utas.edu.au

Phone: 03 6324 4009

Nursing

Pharmacy

Allied health

Medicine

Provide Nursing, Pharmacy,

Allied Health and Medical

students with free

accommodation and internet

access at 20 rural locations.

Provide a Rural Placement

Allowance of up to $60 per

week to students undertaking

placements in rural Tasmania

providing they receive no

financial support from their

schools.

There is a $200 Rural

Placement Allowance for

Interstate Allied Health

students.

Students external to UTAS

may be required to pay an

accommodation charge.

11

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

University of South Australia Department of Rural Health, SA

Location of Main Office: Whyalla, SA

Website:

http://www.unisa.edu.au/about-

unisa/rural-campuses/drh/

Student Information and

Applications:

http://www.unisa.edu.au/About-

UniSA/Rural-

campuses/DRH/Student-support/

Email: drhstudents@unisa.edu.au

Phone: 08 8647 6036

Audiology,

Dietetics,

Human Movement,

Laboratory Medicine,

Medical Radiation,

Midwifery, Nursing,

Occupational Therapy,

Oral Health, Pharmacy,

Podiatry,

Psychology,

Social Work – if placed in a

health setting,

Speech Pathology,

Optometry

Allied Health and Nursing

students from UniSA will

be supported with free

accommodation or

financial assistance

towards accommodation

depending on location.

International students are

required to pay $100-$120

a week for DRH supported

accommodation, depending

on location.

Students from other

universities have access to

DRH accommodation at

$25 per week (admin

charge) when available,

dependent on the

discipline.

Allied Health and nursing

students from all

universities are eligible for

travel assistance from

Adelaide (this amount is

capped). Allied Health and

Nursing residential

students are not entitled to

any financial assistance.

12

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Western Australian Centre

for Rural Health, WA

Location of Main Office:

Geraldton, WA

Website: www.wacrh.uwa.edu.au

Student Information and

Applications:

http://www.wacrh.uwa.edu.au/inde

x.php/students

Email: admin-wacrh@uwa.edu.au

Phone: 08 9956 0200

Occupational Therapy,

Physiotherapy, Exercise

Physiology, Social Work,

Podiatry, Paramedicine,

Pharmacy, Health

Promotion, Speech,

Pharmacy, Dietetics and

Nutrition, Speech Pathology,

Nursing and Midwifery.

Other disciplines are

supported by arrangement.

WACRH has student

accommodation in the

following locations:

Midwest:

• Geraldton - 12x2

bedroom shared units

& 2x4 bedroom shared

units

• Mullewa - 3x2

bedroom shared units

(available late 2017)

Murchison

• Mt Magnet - 6

bedroom house

Pilbara

• Karratha - 2x3

bedroom shared units

• Newman - 4 bedroom

shared villa

• Port Hedland - 4

bedroom shared house

We offer free (where

possible) or affordable

accommodation in these

areas.

Accommodation is of a

high standard and includes

internet access.

Scholarships are provided

for travel to the Pilbara

region only. Regional

travel between remote

towns is supported by

WACRH through use of

Centre vehicles.

13

UDRH

DISCIPLINES

SUPPORTED

TRAVEL &

ACCOMMODATION

Centre for Remote Health, Northern Territory

Location of Main Offices:

Alice Springs & Tennant Creek,

NT.

Website: www.crh.org.au

Student Information and

Applications:

www.crh.org.au/student-

placements/student-placements-

overview

Email:

crh.placements@flinders.edu.au

Phone:

Alice Springs 08 8951 4700

All health and community

service disciplines are

supported.

Students from all universities

are welcome.

All students must attend the

cultural orientation offered in the

region as part of their placement.

Student accommodation is twin

share or single (depending on

location) usually within walking

distance of the hospital and other

sites, self-contained with wifi

access. Cost is $100-$150per

week.

A stipend of $120 per week up to

$1200 is offered on application

for students studying with

Flinders and CDU who are

required to travel to attend a

placement.

Accommodation is available in

selected remote Aboriginal

communities.