After four years of study, the first cohort of students from the Doctor of Medicine (MD) – DubboStream–isabout tograduate andmake itsmark across regional and ruralAustraliaas country doctors. Thefirst tranche of graduates from the 24-student intakehavecompletedtheir degree in Dubbo, learning not just the science of medicine, but the art of practicing in country communities.
The Dubbo Stream was created to address a critical need: more doctors in rural and remote areas. Developed under the Australian Government’s Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network (MDMSN), the program provides students with immersive clinical experiences across western NSW, giving them firsthand understanding of rural health challenges and the rewards of working outside metropolitan centres.
Dean of theFaculty of Medicine and Health,Professor John Prins,said: “This is a proud moment for our University and the Dubbo community. Our MD graduates have spent four years living,studyingand working inrural NSW, andmany arenow stepping into roles that will directlybenefitrural andregional communities. The Dubbo Stream was designed to grow aruralmedical workforce, andit’sincredibly rewarding to see that visionwillsoon become a reality.
“These students have done somethingspecial–they’vetrained as doctorsin the region, and now many are staying to serve the communities that supported them. It shows just how powerful local training can be in building a strong, sustainable rural medical workforce,”saidProfessor Prins.
“When we launched the Dubbo Stream, our goal was to help more students study medicine close to home and, in turn, strengthen healthcare in rural Australia. Seeing this first cohort graduateis proof that this model works,” he said.
Head of School and Dean oftheSydney Medical SchoolProfessor Jane Bleaselsaid: “From their first day in Dubbo, these studentsweren’tjust studying medicine, they were living it.They’vebeen embraced by the community, mentored by local doctors, and seen firsthand the difference that continuity of care makes in rural towns. That connection to place and people is something youcan’treplicate in the city.
“Our graduates have learned medicine in the same communities wherethey’llnow be making a difference.They’vedeveloped strong ties with local health services,schoolsand families, and that sense of belonging is what keeps doctors working in the bush.It’sbeen inspiring to see them grow into part of the fabric of western NSW,” she said.
Meet the next generation of rural health leaders
The Dubbostream gives students the chance to complete their MD entirely in a regional setting, supported by modern facilities and clinical placements at the redeveloped Dubbo Hospital. The curriculum goes beyond textbooks, immersing students in rural life, building community connections, and teaching them how to deliver health services where access can be limited.
Many of the graduates are stepping straight into local and regional roles, returning to the communities that raised them or heading to towns that need their skills. Most have deep rural roots. Some grew up on farms, others in small country towns, and a few have come full circle after studying in the city–allbringing with them fresh perspectives and a commitment to country practice.
Liam Morrissey
Growing up inCoonabarabranNSW,Liam Morrisseywas acutely aware of the healthcarechallengesfacedby rural Australia, including limited access to doctors and having to travel long distances to access medical and specialist care.
He came to Dubbo to complete his MD after completing a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology at UNSW and seven years working in cities, in the occupational health and workers compensation sectors. The doctors who taught and supervised him during his degree cemented his commitment to rural medicine.
“Seeing these doctors in their roles and in the community, as well as the lifestyles they're able to have, has furthered my passion to pursue rural medicine,” he said.
Liam will remain in Dubbo next year, taking up a two-year internship at Dubbo Hospitalwith plans to continue training as a GP and a commitment to working in a regional or rural area.
“I really enjoy the freedom and pace of being back in rural NSW; the ability to have more space and more time in the day,” he said.
Josie Cross
Also taking up an internship at Dubbo Hospital next year,Josie Crossjoined the Dubbo Stream after finishing her Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree in Brisbane.
Originally from Grafton NSW, Josie knows firsthand how limited and inaccessible healthcarecan bein rural areas.
“The downstream effects of this inequity, especially in mental health, were evident in the people around me, and the impact on my peers and wider community was profound,” she said.“These experiences have shaped how I view healthcare and havemotivated me to pursue medicine with the intention of serving communities that have been overlooked for far too long.”
They’ve been embraced by the community, mentored by local doctors, and seen firsthand the difference that continuity of care makes in rural towns.
Professor Jane Bleasel
Head of School and Dean of the Sydney Medical School
George Smith
Hailing fromWarragul, Victoria,George Smithfollowedtheexample set by his parents– both doctors who chose to live and work regionally –byelectingto study medicine.
George felt studying in Dubbo enabled a hands-on experience not always available to futuredoctorstraining in the city.
“It'spretty specialto look back on a four-year journey of medical education that has taken me to far corners of rural and remote Australia.I now have anopportunity to give back to the regional communities who helped train me,”hesaid.
Hesaidthe local community also welcomed his involvement in a life outside of study, especially in the local sporting scene.
George will take up an internship at Ballarat Base Hospital next year, alongside his partner and fellowDoctor of Medicine Dubbo Stream graduateLauren Wild.
Lauren Wild
Lauren, originally from the coastal town of Burnie, Tasmania, also has a strong connection to rural life. The two met as biomedical science undergraduates at Monash University in Melbourne, actively seekingtraining programs in rural areas when applying to study medicine.
Rural-based medical training helped Lauren to appreciate the flexibility and range of thinkingrequiredto work as a rural practitioner.
“Our classroom and hospital tutorsdemonstrated,byexample, their broad knowledge of the many aspects ofmedicinerequiredto practice rurally. Exposure to the challenges of truly remote medical care has prepared us for our internships,”saidLauren.
Hero image: George Smith and Lauren Wild. Credit: Lauren Murphy
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