Western Sydney University School of Medicine rural placement numbers increase

And her fellow Western Sydney University medical student Paddy Corcoran can't believe his luck that his course will allow him to train in his home town of Bathurst.

Ms Dasey and Mr Corcoran discussed their experiences on Friday as Western Sydney University highlighted its efforts in providing a solution to what seems the perennial problem of a lack of doctors in the bush.

The Western Sydney University School of Medicine program at Campbelltown gives students the opportunity to apply to do a year of training at Bathurst in their fourth year.

The School of Medicine started in 2007 and the rural placement is in its sixth year.

"We started with eight students taking up the rural training year, we then expanded to 12 students and now sit at 16 in Bathurst," rural schools community engagement officer Nathan Rollinson said.

“The philosophy is to provide a high quality rural training experience to encourage students to service rural communities when they graduate.”

Ms Dasey, who hopes to be a rural generalist, said she knew from the beginning that she wanted to come to Bathurst for her fourth year.

“I think if you do the whole five to six years in Sydney [while studying], you get used to Sydney,” she said.

‘It’s good to come out here. It reminds you that the country is better.”

Mr Corcoran, meanwhile, a Stannies graduate who is in his first year of study, says the option of training at Bathurst is perfect for him.

“I’ve got a place to come back to. The only shame is that I have to go away for study,” he said.

From 2017, the Western Sydney University’s new Rural Entry Admission Scheme will offer 15 guaranteed places in the medical program for rural applicants.

“Getting doctors out where we need them is the challenge for the future,” rural program co-ordinator Jane Thompson said.

Mr Rollinson said Aaia Aladdin, a graduate of the School of Medicine, who had her one-year placement in Bathurst, is now back in the city doing her residency.​

He wanted to acknowledge the support of the Bathurst Rural Clinical School staff, the health district and state member Paul Toole. ​