Bathurst Clinical School

UWS Suite Outside Roses The Rural Clinical School at Bathurst is under the leadership of the Clinical Dean, Associate Professor Tim McCrossin. Associate Professor McCrossin is a Consultant Paediatrician and has resided in Bathurst with his family for 16 years.

In 2009, the UWS School of Medicine received a grant from the Federal Department of Health & Ageing to establish two Rural Clinical Schools (RCS). These are being established in Lismore and Bathurst. The Rural Clinical Schools program is designed to encourage medical students to take up a career in rural practice by enabling them to undertake extended clinical training placements in rural locations.

The program also seeks to have a more immediate impact on the rural medical workforce by encouraging health professionals to take up rural academic positions, often through joint funding arrangements with local area health services.

Educational Experience

The delivery of the UWS Medical Program in rural settings gives students both excellence in medical education experience as well as the benefits of a rural lifestyle to encourage graduates to return to live and practise in rural and remote Australia.

The RCS also provides an academic focus for clinicians, teachers and researchers who wish to become part of the University presence in a rural environment.

Students in rural schools complete the same curriculum as their Sydney-based classmates, within a rural context. They can expect:

small student-teacher ratios
easy access to clinical experience
enhanced skills acquisition
less commuting
well-equipped learning & living facilities
friendly country communities

Ten students are placed in Bathurst for a total of 12 months every year from July through to May.

The school has been functioning and growing for the past 3 years and develops and changes with each cohort.

Students live and are immersed in the Bathurst community and they experience a wonderful array of different activities throughout their year. They live in two, 6 bedroom purpose built, and beautifully appointed houses directly across the road from the Bathurst Health Service. Lack of travelling and personalised service from staff and teachers are among the great advantages of a student’s year in Bathurst.

The rotations take place in Bathurst Health Service and Orange Aboriginal Medical Service. Students will also attend clinics within the communities of Bathurst and Orange.

Bathurst Health Service

Bathurst Health Service is a Rural Acute Hospital located on the eastern border of Western NSW Local Health District. Bathurst Hospital has101 beds and services the acute needs of the community. Clinical Services within the hospital include:

Allied Health
Ambulatory Care
Coronary Care
Emergency Medicine
Intensive Care
Medicine
Mental Health
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Oncology
Paediatrics
Pathology
Radiology
Rehabilitation Medicine
Surgery

The rotations the students can expect to do in Bathurst include: Paediatrics, General Practice, Surgery, Medicine and Oncology. Students also attend the Orange Aboriginal Service to complete their Indigenous Health attachment. Bathurst is increasingly being utilised for short term placements including Mental Health.

Research

The students based in Bathurst complete their Community Research Project in two week blocks with the support of specialist staff and onsite supervisors. Students will be encouraged to explore issues of disadvantage as it might apply to healthcare within a Rural Community.

Bathurst is building a strong foundation of research with the appointment of staff including Associate Professors Kumara Mendis and Wendy Stevens. A number of clinical, population health and health service projects are now underway and will provide a solid base for also enriching research opportunities for conjoint staff and other health practitioners affiliated to the Rural Clinical School - Bathurst.

Bathurst Clinical School Staff:

Bathurst Rural Clinical School Staff

Academic Staff
Clinical Dean, Associate Professor - Paediatrics	A/Prof Tim McCrossin
Professor – Oncology	Prof Graham Stevens
Conjoint Associate Professor - Medicine	A/Prof Bruce McGarity
Associate Professor – Rural Health and Research	A/Prof Kumara Mendis
Associate Professor – Rural Health and Research	A/Prof Wendy Stevens
Senior Lecturer - Surgery	Dr Ian Elbourne
Professional Staff
Rural Program Manager	Jenny Akers
Student Co-ordinator	Bronwyn Bauer
Rural I.T and A.V Officer	Herman Hofman
Indigenous Placements Officer	Ian Kennedy
Research Officer	Tegan Edwards
Administrative Officer	Jo Halloran and Rebecca Spicer

News:

The first Teddy Bear Hospital at the Royal Bathurst Show was initiated by 5th year UWS medical students based in Bathurst, coordinated by Jacqueline Loprete. This initiative was inspired by an annual University of Newcastle venture. Local children were invited to bring along their favourite teddy to the show to be checked for ailments. The aim is to encourage a positive relationship between children and health professionals, to assist students in further developing their communication skills with children, to increase community awareness of the UWS Rural Medical School programme in Bathurst and to foster cross disciplinary relationships with nursing, paramedic & allied health students attending Charles Sturt University. 56 Teddies & other species were examined at the hospital with a variety of conditions. The students worked alongside each other and the hospital was very popular and well received. For her efforts, Jaqueline was awarded the inaugural Ben Chifley Community engagement award. This will become an annual award for the Bathurst student who demonstrates a high level of Community engagement and involvement.

New Students: The staff welcomed 10 new students in July for an action packed academic year. A very successful orientation week kicked off with guest lecturers including a talk by Member for State Parliament, Mr Paul Toole; a farm visit to discuss farm safety, conducted again, by Local GP Dr Ross Wilson: a great introduction to Rural life; defensive driving lessons – to help our students adapt to country driving; Beyond Medical Education and Medicare Local talk; Indigenous Orientation with Staff from Orange AMS; a trip to Orange Health Service – where oncology placements are undertaken; a trip to the Neighbourhood Centre and to CSU where some of our students now enjoy the use of sporting facilities at the CSU campus.