News

Students explore rural medical careers

By Lua Ikenasio

Oct 10, 2025

Aspiring medical students from across the region came together at Echuca Regional Health on Wednesday, October 8, to take part in the first ever Rural Doctor Careers Day.

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The program, led by the Victorian Rural Generalist Program in collaboration with Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network and ERH, allowed students to gain hands-on experience in a hospital setting.

A total of 18 students, ranging from Year 10 to Year 12, were selected from Echuca College, Moama Anglican Grammar School, Rochester Secondary College and Cohuna Secondary College to take part.

Victorian Rural Generalist co-ordinator Craig Canham led students through the program. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Victorian Rural Generalist co-ordinator Craig Canham said the program was created to highlight the benefits of working in rural medicine.

“What we found was that the local students that are interested in studying medicine weren’t getting any exposure to hospitals in Loddon Mallee,” he said.

“What we want to get out of it is to show the young students in the local area that there’s a good career in rural medicine.

“We’ve had students and we’ve had doctors here that have great careers in medicine, so we want to show them that whatever you can do in the city, you can do in the country.”

Cohuna Secondary College students Joelie Mathers and Georgie Neil take turns listening to each other’s heart beats. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

Throughout the day, students engaged with interns currently studying rural medicine as well as practising rural doctors.

Students participated in a series of hands-on workshops where they learnt practical skills such as measuring blood pressure, using stethoscopes, performing cardiac and ankle examinations, surgical knot tying and proper bandaging techniques.

To showcase the diverse range of career pathways in medicine, a Q&A panel discussion was also hosted for students, led by the interns and doctors.

Intern Xavier Kendell teaching Cohuna Secondary College student Joelie Mathers the ins and outs of a stethoschope. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

MAGS student Aleisha Moon said the program was a chance to interact with people in the field who shared similar experiences.

“I’ve had a bit of an interest in medicine for a while now and I wasn’t sure what exactly I liked about it,” she said.

“I thought if I came today, I’d be able to see different fields (and) talk to different people who have had the same ideas as me, same experiences.”

Intern Courtney Bruce teaching Ava Whitburn and Matilda Medland how to wrap an injured ankle. Photo by Lua Ikenasio

For Echuca College student Mia Athurson, the day helped narrow down her study options.

“It was a great opportunity and I think it’s really helped me kind of solidify that medicine is an area I want to go into,” she said.

“I think also being able to talk to the medical students about their different paths is really helpful.

“I love living rural as well, so I think making a difference in the rural setting would be great.”

The program is the first of its kind to be hosted in the region.

Following an evaluation of the day, the Victorian Rural Generalist Program will look into making the Rural Doctor Career Day an annual program and possibly expanding it throughout the region.