From hospital wards in Roma to community health clinics in Dalby, a group of University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) students have spent a week discovering what it takes to deliver healthcare across rural and remote Queensland.
Twenty Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway) students hit the road last month for the Darling Downs-South West Medical Pathway Student Rural Immersion Tour, travelling through the Western Downs, Maranoa, and Darling Downs regions.
Funded by the National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund, Toowoomba Hospital, and Maranoa Council, the tour gave students an unparalleled opportunity to experience the communities they may one day serve as doctors.
Hands-on learning
Students toured hospitals in Roma, Dalby, and Toowoomba, visited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health services, immersed themselves in clinical skills at The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School, and enjoyed research presentations at Southern Queensland Rural Health. They were inspired by rural doctors, learned about medical specialties, explored telehealth innovations, and even stepped inside operating theatres at Toowoomba Hospital.
Community connection
Beyond clinical settings, students also engaged with local councils, schools, and community groups to better understand the social and cultural factors that shape healthcare in the bush. Stops included the Country Universities Centre Maranoa, Goondir Health Services, and a Tara farm, where they heard firsthand about the challenges of healthcare access in remote areas.
Inspiring the next generation
The Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Medicine Pathway) is part of the Darling Downs-South West Medical Pathway – a collaboration between UniSQ, The University of Queensland, Darling Downs Health and South West Hospital and Health Service. The program aims to provide end-to-end medical training in the Darling Downs and South West Queensland regions, building a pipeline of skilled doctors committed to rural practice.
