Creating bonds in the bush

In the vast landscapes of Central Queensland, Wide Bay Burnett, Darling Downs and South West regions, 98 Year 1 medical students traded their textbooks and laptops for wide-brimmed hats and sturdy boots as they embarked on a transformative learning adventure. The Rural Community Immersion Program connected them to the land and with resilient locals who call rural and remote Queensland home.

The program showcased the unique charms and challenges of rural living to students. Over 4 days, locals opened their homes and businesses, presenting a ‘behind the scenes’ look at 8 communities to students.

Braden Everett-Rehbein, first-year medical student, found the immersion program an eye-opening experience.

“It really felt like we were part of the community, just from a single weekend,” Braden recalls.

“The sheer volume of people who, as soon as they met us, said, ‘We need a doctor down here’ surprised me.

“It’s something you can read about in research papers and look at the statistics for, but it’s another thing to actually feel that from residents and to extend that sentiment to communities all around rural areas in Australia.

“It really grounded a lot of the more theoretical studies that we do.”

Research shows that early introduction to rural medicine with repeat exposure to rural placements positively influences a student’s intention to enter the rural workforce.

Students didn’t just observe during their time in the bush, but actively engaged with the communities they visited.

They inspired young locals by running Teddy Bear Hospitals (the flagship program for the Ashintosh Foundation) in primary schools and childcare centres, toured medical facilities, and participated in medical talking circles, which provided opportunities to get answers to their questions straight from the source.

Brayden Merton, first-year regional medical student, explained that although he is from a rural background, the Immersion Program strengthened his desire to become a rural doctor.

“Going into the bush hasn’t so much changed my perception of rural health, but it’s definitely made my perception stronger and reaffirmed the fact that I want to practise rurally,” Brayden explains.

“I was born and raised rurally, and we need more rural doctors.

“Just to have the community feel and see all the clinical medicine out there is amazing.

"The GPs, all of the hospital doctors – I just knew from that experience that I wanted to continue that and give back rurally.”

The program also included a cultural awareness journey presented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Activities varied from smoking ceremonies, cultural tours, Indigenous arts and crafts sessions, and Indigenous Community Health Centre visits.

For many, the cultural immersion was the highlight of the program.