The Rural Clinical School of WA (RCSWA) helps rural communities sustain a locally trained and loyal medical workforce by plac ... ing medical students in country regions. Under the program, students gain valuable hands-on experience, enjoy close mentoring and are more likely to return to rural towns after they graduate. The RCSWA offers placements in 15 rural towns between Kununurra and Esperance, and more than 105 students a year are selected to spend their penultimate year of study in these locations. Students work in small teams with local academic staff, doctors, medical professionals and mentors, and in health services including paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, Indigenous health and general practice. The RCSWA aims to drive a larger presence of doctors into country towns that face health and medical welfare challenges while giving student doctors the chance to learn from real-life experiences. Peer-reviewed research shows students who undertake an RCSWA placement are four times more likely to return to work in the country compared to others. The RCSWA program is a professional and personal enrichment opportunity. It is a year-long program undertaken in the second last year of the medical degree. The RCSWA: - is nationally regarded for curriculum innovation and excellence in delivery has course objectives and outcomes identical to those completed by city-based students with the learning tailored and delivered to the needs of the community - allows for students to gain practical learning opportunities, as well as clinical placements at local hospitals, general practices, community and remote clinics, and Aboriginal medical centres - is the only collaborative rural clinical school in the State - has assisted in training more than 1000 doctors since 2002. read more