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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.
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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-
[email protected]
Phone: 07 4745 4538 or
07 4545 4500
Mount Isa office
Gail Whebell
[email protected]
Central West Office:
Longreach
Peter Coombes [email protected]
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.
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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: [email protected]
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 .
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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.
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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-
[email protected] .
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
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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: [email protected]
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.
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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:
[email protected]
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/
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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: [email protected]
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).
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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:
[email protected]
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
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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: [email protected]
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.
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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: [email protected]
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.
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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: [email protected]
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.
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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:
[email protected]
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.