Former high-profile MP Rob Oakeshott is embracing a new career after graduating with a medical degree from the University of NSW.
He was among the first students to complete their full undergraduate medical degree at the university's Rural Clinical School Campus in Port Macquarie, which opened in 2017.
"It's been six years of my life, and the family's life, as a mature age student, so lots of challenges so it's a huge relief to be at the finish line," he said.
Mr Oakeshott rose to prominence as the Independent member for Lyne in 2010, when he and former member for New England Tony Windsor famously helped Julia Gillard form government, after the election delivered a hung parliament.
He received backlash at the time for a 17-minute monologue before announcing his support for Labor, which some constituents had not expected due to his background as a former National Party MP.
He retired at the 2013 election but had a tilt at winning the seat of Cowper in 2016 and again in 2019.
Plan to work as regional GP
Mr Oakeshott said he was looking forward to his new career path.
"I will be working at Port Macquarie Base Hospital probably doing night shift, and probably Kempsey Hospital as well, so, if you get sick in the local area, keep driving," he said with a laugh.
He said his aim was to work as a general practitioner in the Port Macquarie area.
"I hope to get back into the community as quickly as I can," he said.
"You do need to go through the hospital training for a couple of years and then the goal is to do general practice, hopefully soon."
Course to keep doctors local
Associate Professor Ray Hodgson, the Director of Medical Services at the Port Macquarie Campus of UNSW, said it was very rewarding to see the first group of students who had completed their full degree locally, graduate.
"I have to say this would be probably the proudest day of all the years I've spent at this clinical school," he said.
Dr Hodgson said training doctors in regional areas brought many benefits.
"We are all very much aware of the shortage of rural doctors, particularly rural general practitioners, " he said.
"We know that if you train in the rural areas of the country, you are much more likely to practice in rural areas of the country.
"We've been following the students who have graduated from here over the years and they are much more likely to practice rurally if they study here."
