A MOST unusual year for Western Sydney University students in Bathurst has come with an unexpected benefit.
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And it might end up changing the way students study in the future.
Those taking part in the Western Sydney University Bathurst Rural Clinical School were asked an important question back in March.
"When the COVID crisis struck and we asked for volunteers from the students to remain in Bathurst and train as assistants in medicine, which is to become doctors before they are due to be doctors, all 17 who are here immediately volunteered," Dr Ross Wilson said.
Dr Wilson is director of rural training with the university.
"So they have been here an extra 16 weeks, working as assistants in medicine, in all the aspects of the hospital - surgery, medicine, emergency, ambulatory care, rehab, all the departments," he said.
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The students finished their extended stay in the city last week.
Matthew Bojanic, from Pennant Hills, is one of the students.
"It's been a great opportunity to not only give back to the Bathurst community, but to expand our skillset," he said.
"It's a big jump, generally, from medical school to entering into the workplace as a junior doctor and the assistant medicine program and the opportunity provided at Bathurst has been invaluable in helping us build the confidence and have the time on the wards to be able to actively perform our jobs in the future."
Mr Bojanic said a "slight interest" in country medicine was part of what brought him to Bathurst.
"And my 17 months out here has just solidified that and being able to have a more patient-facing role as an assistant in medicine has really helped build that desire to remain rural," he said.
"I'm being sent regional next year and then I'm hoping to return to a rural area after that to continue with my training."
Bathurst Hospital director of medical services Dr Denis Smith said the students' absence will be felt.
"I know some of my more senior doctors will miss them dearly because they really have been able to step up and pick up a lot of the workload," he said.
Dr Wilson said the students' experience in Bathurst had been noted well beyond the city.
"The ministry of health in Sydney has shown distinct interest in making this experience part of final year for most students in the future," he said.
Dr Smith said a major evaluation program is being conducted to measure the success of the students' experience in Bathurst "and that will go into the thinking of the ministry whether or not to continue this program in the future".
