Welcome to the Rural Clinical School's website which provides key information and an insight into our activities.

The University of Tasmania's Rural Clinical School is building a strong national and international reputation for excellence in rural medical education. The high level commitment and enthusiasm of our academic team, the excellent relationships we have with regional health and community partners, the varied clinical experiences provided to our students through these links, and the magnificent teaching and accommodation facilities we have in Burnie all contribute to this.

While the RCS is based in Burnie on Tasmania's beautiful north west coast, our students benefit from working across the whole north west region in both acute services and primary care settings. They can also take advantage of the region's wonderful lifestyle.

I encourage prospective medical students to read about the RCS undergraduate rural medical program which offers excellent clinical learning opportunities and experiences for Years 4, 5 and 6 students delivered within the framework of the University's MBBS curriculum.

Medical education at the RCS incorporates a number of innovative features to benefit students' clinical learning. The program actively promotes shared learning opportunities among peers and with a variety of health professionals and students benefit from a well-equipped Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre.

In addition to the normal clinical attachments, it is the emergency medicine, women's and children's and integrated primary care focus that distinguishes the undergraduate rural medical program, as these areas are considered fundamental to rural medical practice.

Innovations in program delivery will be implemented in 2009 and beyond to cater for increased medical student numbers. Timetables will focus CBLs, tutorials and formal learning into particular weeks of each clinical attachment, to give students more uninterrupted clinical time in the remaining weeks. This approach to timetabling was introduced in 2008 for final year students and received very positive feedback.

The RCS will be aiming to maintain the distinctive features of the rural medical undergraduate program - good student:patient ratios, enhanced opportunities for small group teaching and more hands-on experience. Remote medical practice is an integral part of the sixth year program.

You will be able to find out more about research at the RCS and about our strong student support program which includes high-quality subsidised student accommodation.

The RCS welcomes enquiries and visits from undergraduate students with an interest in future rural and remote medical practice and from students wishing to benefit from the unique clinical training available in rural north west Tasmania. Please contact Rosalie Maynard, Manager of Marketing and Community Engagement, for assistance with transport, accommodation and a visitor's program.

Professor Judi Walker

Chief Executive Rural Clinical School and Professor of Rural Health