Monash University rural health mentoring program helping regional students in Mildura study medicine

Saje Allen is part of a mentoring program in Mildura tackling doctor shortages at the grass roots. (Jennifer Douglas)

When Saje Allen was a Mildura Senior College student she thought living regionally would make it too hard to study medicine.

But after taking part in a Monash University Rural Health mentoring program, she found the support she needed.

Now, as a third year medical student, she is not only studying medicine in her hometown but also mentoring other young students though the same Med-Toring program which helped her.

"The Med-Toring program aims to introduce local students to the possibility of studying medicine in regional areas and to share information about pathways and programs to support them to study medicine," Ms Allen said.

She said the Med-Toring program provided access to a variety of support available for regional students interested in a health career; from studying closer to home, to tailored pathways, mentoring and accommodation.

Louise Hodgetts says giving medical students the chance to study in the regions can help address workforce shortages.

Louise Hodgetts is the program coordinator at the Monash Rural Health school in Mildura, one of eight clinical teaching sites across Victoria which aim to improve regional training and career opportunities for young doctors.

Secondary students experience treating a patient in the Monash Rural Health simulation laboratory.

While the aim is to increase access for students from regional areas to achieve a medical career, it also encourages city students to experience rural placements.

A report into students receiving clinical experience in regional hospitals showed rural placements increased the likelihood of a doctor practising in rural areas during their early postgraduate years.

The research also found rural students were more likely to continuing practising in rural areas for more than eight years after graduation.

'Now I have a pathway'

Ella Pettigrew attended her first Monash Rural Health mentoring program with other secondary students from across Sunraysia this week.

Year 10 student Ella Pettigrew, from Irymple Secondary College, has her sights set on medicine.

She was able to meet with medical students and experience hands-on care for a patient in the simulation training room.

She said experiencing what it was like to be in the regional clinical school classroom and meeting other students who had achieved their goal of studying medicine, gave her more confidence.

Students met with paramedics who showed them around an ambulance.

More needs to be done

Saje Allen said although the Monash Rural Health school had allowed her to achieve her goals, more needed to be done to create specialist training in regional areas.

Saje Allen says she's "living proof" that supporting regional students will see more of them study medicine.

Her hope is to one day practice paediatric surgery or emergency medicine – eventually doing so in a regional area.

"One day, I definitely do hope to come back to a rural setting, as it's what I've grown up in and where I feel at home," she said.

"I'm hoping to see where life takes me and practise medicine as I go."