South Australia Rural Medical Program

Applicants will be offered a place at either Mt Gambier or the Riverland as their home campus for years 1 and 2. 

The first two years of the course aims to start to develop the student's basic biomedical knowledge, the application of that knowledge and to demonstrate their ability to;

• make simple decisions about patients
• communicate
• understand the Australian Health Care System
• become a self-regulated learner
• become a responsible group member and leader
• demonstrate appropriate professionalism

Students will be required to live in the region they are offered in years 1 and 2, in order to attend regular face to face teaching, including a mix of lectures, workshops, tutorials, practical sessions, project work and independent study.  

There is no relocation assistance or subsidised accommodation available for students moving to their home campus. Students needing accommodation are strongly encouraged to contact local real estate agents in preparation. 

Year 3 of the program includes a longitudinal work integrated learning clinical placement offered as a continuum over the year.  This placement is based on the highly successful initiative by Flinders University to introduce medical students to the rigours, benefits, challenges and rewards of rural and regional medicine.

The program, formerly known as the MD Rural Stream, has produced medical professionals of the highest standard, many returning to regional locations to make their homes within the community. 

The broad, integrated, flexible nature of the clinical years will ideally suit students who thrive in a learning environment that encourages and supports self-regulated learning, learning in small groups, agility, autonomy, responsibility and cooperative involvement in the ongoing care and life of individuals, their families and rural communities.

Students will be principally attached to a general practice but will make extensive use of other rural health care facilities, including hospitals, community outreach agencies, Aboriginal medical services and health centres.

Students will preference to study years 3 and 4 in one of the following rural regions. 

• Riverland
• Greater Green Triangle
• Hills, Mallee, Fleurieu
• Barossa Valley

Preferences will be considered but are not guaranteed.

For students who are allocated to a different rural region in years 3 and 4, a relocation reimbursement will be available. The University offers subsidised accommodation across the regions for clinical placements.

Year 4 in the program includes work integrated learning clinical placements offered as a continuum over the year. Students undertake supervised experience within a variety of disciplines and participate in a range of activities in clinical settings, attend lectures, tutorials and undertake self-directed learning. Students will focus on acquiring important knowledge and principles in all clinical disciplines and developing their ability to diagnose and manage common clinical problems.

Students will undertake 6 x 6 week rotations in various disciplines within the rural clinical setting.

They will also participate in intensives and intern shadowing to prepare them for internship.