Rural and Remote Medicine - Medical School

Rural and Remote Medicine: Mayne Academy of Rural and Remote Medicine and Rural and Remote Medicine Clinical Unit

The Mayne Academy of Rural and Remote Medicine is headed by Professor Bruce Chater. The Discipline oversees the Rural & Remote Medicine placement, which provides a unique opportunity for medical students to understand and experience the rewards, benefits and challenges of clinical practice amongst population groups and/or in communities that face access and equity challenges associated with health service delivery.

In 2024, all students are required to undertake MEDI7315 Rural and Remote Medicine (RRM), unless thay have been granted an RRM Exemption via the Special Consideration Process.

RRM application for Priority Placement Guidelines and Form 2024 can be accessed here.

Students have an opportunity to submit an application for Priority Placement prior to preferencing placement sites.

Compelling reasons only will be considered e.g., students with a rural background or connection (i.e. completed TREES Observership) and wish to complete a placement at a specific rural site.

RRM Student Handbook 2024 can be accessed here.

RRM Preceptor Handbook 2024 can be accessed here.

EPP Teaching Clinician Information Booklet 2024 can be accessed here.

Contact

Mayne Academy Coordinator
Email: med.rrmstudents@uq.edu.au

Students can undertake placements in rural and remote areas within Queensland, throughout Australia and internationally.

View profiles for possible domestic 2024 placements. Please note that not all sites are available each placement.

Rural & Remote Medicine sits within the Year 3 Comprehensive Clinical Practice (CCP) semester and in 2024 also the Year 4 Primary Care Plus (PCP) semester. It is preceded by an Introductory Week program hosted by a rural site. Students undertake a supervised six week placement at a rural or remote placement site in hospital, general practice and/or community-based settings.

In 2024 both international and domestic students will be undertaking a rural placement.Your placement will be organised for you following preferencing, and you will be allocated to a rural preceptor. Your accommodation for the RRM placement will be paid for by the Faculty.

Please be aware that whilst every effort will be made to avoid placement changes, this may be necessary due to circumstances out of our control. In these circumstances, the coordinator will contact you to discuss alternative placement options.

Recognising our Academic Title Holders

UQ Medicine is proud to acknowledge that our provision of high quality medical education and research would not be possible without the work of our hospital and clinic-based health professionals. Within our discipline, clinical training and research is supported by health professionals who hold an Academic Title with UQ.

Find out more about Academic Titles at UQ

Research in rural and remote medicine is undertaken in our Rural Clinical School Research Centre, which conducts research relevant to the needs of rural areas from individuals through to entire populations.

RRM Placement Subsidy Information

The RRM Placement Subsidy is an initiative of the Rural Clinical School and provides financial support to assist students to attend Introductory Week and complete rural and remote placements throughout Queensland during the Comprehensive Clinical Practice Semester and Primary Care Plus (PCP) Semesters. The Mayne Academy of Rural and Remote Medicine (RRM) staff administer this program.

Types of support include;

Accommodation
Travel
Internet

Further information on the 2024 subsidy and how it is calculated can be found here.

To complete a subsidy form, click here.

Timeline for subsidy

Form Completion By	Subsidy	Payment By
Semester 1: 7 January, 2024 Semester 2: 16 June, 2024	Introductory Week Subsidy	Semester 1: Week 2 of Block 1 Semester 2: Week 2 of Block 4
	RRM Placement Subsidy	Week 2 of each rural placement
	Internet Access Subsidy	Week 2 of each rural placement

RRM Priority Placement

Domestic students who find themselves in circumstances that they feel prevents them from undertaking a rural placement; or students with a rural background or connection (i.e. completed TREES Observership) and may wish to complete a rural placement at a specific site, have an opportunity to submit an application for RRM Priority Placement prior to preferencing placement sites.

You will be required to provide a detailed explanation of why and what is required in regard to RRM Priority Placement. Compelling reasons ONLY will be considered as justification for students to be afforded this consideration, and students are required to provide documentary evidence to substantiate their claim.

Download the RRM Priority Placement guidelines and application form.
Compile supporting documentation
Submit your application and supporting documents by the closing date
Email application to med.rrmstudents@uq.edu.au

RRM Priority Placement application closes	CCP Semester 1, 2024	CCP Semester 2, 2024
RRM Priority Placement application closes	Midday, Friday 15 September 2023	Midday, Monday 4 March 2024

Extended Placement Program

The Extended Placement Program provides an opportunity to spend more time in a rural location by undertaking back to back placements in General Practice and Rural & Remote Medicine, either in:

Semester 1 - blocks 1 & 2
Semester 1 - blocks 2 & 3
Semester 2 - blocks 4 & 5
Semester 2 - blocks 5 & 6

The program focuses on continuity of practice in a rural community, thus for students enhancing patient and learner-centeredness. The Extended Placement Program involves identifying students with a keen interest in rural practice and providing them with further opportunities to engage with a rural healthcare team.

In 2024, EPP is open to students taking their RRM and GP placements in either the Year 3 Comprenhensive Clinical Practice (CCP) semester, or the Year 4 Primary Care Plus semester.

More information on EPP and how to apply

Year 4 PLC Rural Opportunities - 2024

Rural Clinical Opportunities

A rural placement for your Year 4 Personalised Learning Course (PLC) is the perfect opportunity for domestic students to build on your Year 3 RRM experience and international students to have the rural experience that you missed out on.

Available rural sites for Semester 1 2024 PLC will be uploaded to InPlace so you should be able to view them when your block preferencing window opens, but if you wish to find out earlier what is available, please contact the RRM team.

There is now the added attraction of PLC access to RRM subsidies for travel and accommodation. This will be continued into 2024 for Year 4 PLC placement options.

2024 rural sites for PLC will be finalised after RRM and GP placements have been allocated.

Please find rural placement opportunities on the flyer attached HERE. If students are interested in a rural placement, they should contact med.rrmstudents@uq.edu.au.

Mayne Academy Course Coordinator
Dr John Ridler
Tel: 0409 895 575
Email: j.ridler@uq.edu.au

Head of Mayne Academy – Rural & Remote Medicine
Professor Bruce Chater
Tel: 0419 674164
Email: a.chater@uq.edu.au

Rural & Remote Medicine Administration Team

Team Lead Rural & Remote Medicine: Bridget Lowe
Tel: 07 4633 9714 Email: med.rrmstudents@uq.edu.au

Student Coordinator (Placement & Accommodation): Jo Wakefield
Tel: 07 4633 9708 Email: med.rrmstudents@uq.edu.au

Course Support Officer (Assessment Coordinator): TBA
Tel: 07 4633 9708 Email: med.rrmstudents@uq.edu.au

Medicine in Society - Rural exemption Students Only
Course Administrator: Kim Wicks
Email: m ed.misstudents@uq.edu.au

Academic coordinator: Dr Michaela Kelly
Email: m.kelly4@uq.edu.au