The aim of the event was to address the shortage of rural workforce health professionals and provide those seeking to enter the industry a positive first-hand experience of life in rural Australia.

More than 120 students from the University of New South Wales, University of Notre Dame and Charles Sturt University turned up to the RAW event which is currently in its eleventh year of operation. 

Fourth year UNSW medicine student Marty Ryan said the initiative was about helping young medical professionals explore the benefits of working and living in regional communities.

“What we have is a few talks and workshops from professionals in the field of allied health,” he said.

“They’re speaking about their experiences in rural areas, what rural areas have to offer in terms of careers and also in terms of living in general, the social experience and how friendly and community-orientated it is here in the country.

“It’s just about putting their careers into a rural perspective in the hope that these students will reconise how great it is to live and practice rurally in the hope that they will come back to the country to practice.”

Rebekah Ford, a first year nursing student at Notre Dame University, has a “big mental commitment for primary healthcare”.

She is part of her university’s rural health committee and said she would jump at any opportunity to learn more about the health care industry of a regional city. 

“I’ve loved getting to chat to other students who are interested in rural health care from other universities and it’s been really cool hearing different experiences from people at different levels of their careers,” she said.

“It’s really inspiring hearing from doctors who work here out in Wagga and the different allied health members as well. It’s really encouraging that there is work out here and they want us here, and that we can make a difference.