John Flynn medical program attracts doctors to rural areas
Rural and remote areas of Australia have long struggled to attract doctors, with the isolation and sheer geographical size of medical practices often being a major deterrent.
But a Federal Department of Health national program established seven years ago – the John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP), managed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine – has received a strong response from enthusiastic young medical students keen to work in remote and rural areas.
More than 1250 medical students across Australia have registered to be part of the program this year, with just 300 to be accepted into the program.
They’ll work with mentors in remote medical practices to address the work shortage and improve the quality of healthcare for local communities.
Twenty-two-year-old Tom Scodellaro from Melbourne is one student who joined the program last year, and spent several weeks earlier this year on placement in Townsville, working with the Aboriginal and Islander Health Service.
Tom said the experience has been invaluable to his professional and personal development, with local doctors overseeing student placements, and acting as mentors.
“The idea is you keep going back to the same community, and build ties and a network, so when you finish (your education), it might be somewhere you want to go back to … and you end up with a really positive experience.”
Professor Richard Murray, president of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine based at Townsville’s James Cook University, said students have been placed in remote areas across every state in Australia, as well as the Australian Antarctic Division, the Kimberly, Pilbara and Christmas Island.
Audio: Medical student Tom Scodellaro says he gained invaluable experience during his Townsville placement
Source: ABC Rural