Universities create medical school to encourage rural doctors

A critical shortage of doctors in Australia’s biggest food-producing region will be eased by the setting up of a rural medical school jointly administered by La Trobe University and Charles Sturt University.

The two universities are finalising plans for a partnership to set up medical training facilities at three rural campuses—Bendigo in central Victoria, and Orange and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.

They hope the medical school will address a decline in medical services across the Murray-Darling basin. The region grows around 45 per cent of Australia’s food and generates 39 per cent of the nation’s GDP.