After four years of study, the first cohort of students from the Doctor of Medicine (MD) – Dubbo Stream – is about to graduate and make its mark across regional and rural Australia as country doctors. The first tranche of graduates from the 24-student intake have completed their degree in Dubbo, learning not just the science of medicine, but the art of practicing in country communities.

The Dubbo Stream was created to address a critical need: more doctors in rural and remote areas. Developed under the Australian Government’s Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network (MDMSN), the program provides students with immersive clinical experiences across western NSW, giving them firsthand understanding of rural health challenges and the rewards of working outside metropolitan centres.

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Professor John Prins, said: “This is a proud moment for our University and the Dubbo community. Our MD graduates have spent four years living, studying and working in rural NSW, and many are now stepping into roles that will directly benefit rural and regional communities. The Dubbo Stream was designed to grow a rural medical workforce, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that vision will soon become a reality.

“These students have done something special – they’ve trained as doctors in the region, and now many are staying to serve the communities that supported them. It shows just how powerful local training can be in building a strong, sustainable rural medical workforce,” said Professor Prins. 

“When we launched the Dubbo Stream, our goal was to help more students study medicine close to home and, in turn, strengthen healthcare in rural Australia. Seeing this first cohort graduate is proof that this model works,” he said. 

Head of School and Dean of the Sydney Medical School Professor Jane Bleasel said: “From their first day in Dubbo, these students weren’t just studying medicine, they were living it. They’ve been embraced by the community, mentored by local doctors, and seen firsthand the difference that continuity of care makes in rural towns. That connection to place and people is something you can’t replicate in the city.

“Our graduates have learned medicine in the same communities where they’ll now be making a difference. They’ve developed strong ties with local health services, schools and families, and that sense of belonging is what keeps doctors working in the bush. It’s been inspiring to see them grow into part of the fabric of western NSW,” she said. 

The Dubbo stream gives students the chance to complete their MD entirely in a regional setting, supported by modern facilities and clinical placements at the redeveloped Dubbo Hospital. The curriculum goes beyond textbooks, immersing students in rural life, building community connections, and teaching them how to deliver health services where access can be limited.

Many of the graduates are stepping straight into local and regional roles, returning to the communities that raised them or heading to towns that need their skills. Most have deep rural roots. Some grew up on farms, others in small country towns, and a few have come full circle after studying in the city – all bringing with them fresh perspectives and a commitment to country practice. 

Growing up in Coonabarabran NSW, Liam Morrissey was acutely aware of the healthcare challenges faced by rural Australia, including limited access to doctors and having to travel long distances to access medical and specialist care. 

He came to Dubbo to complete his MD after completing a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology at UNSW and seven years working in cities, in the occupational health and workers compensation sectors. The doctors who taught and supervised him during his degree cemented his commitment to rural medicine. 

“Seeing these doctors in their roles and in the community, as well as the lifestyles they're able to have, has furthered my passion to pursue rural medicine,” he said.

Liam will remain in Dubbo next year, taking up a two-year internship at Dubbo Hospital with plans to continue training as a GP and a commitment to working in a regional or rural area.  

“I really enjoy the freedom and pace of being back in rural NSW; the ability to have more space and more time in the day,” he said.

Also taking up an internship at Dubbo Hospital next year, Josie Cross joined the Dubbo Stream after finishing her Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree in Brisbane. 

Originally from Grafton NSW, Josie knows firsthand how limited and inaccessible healthcare can be in rural areas. 

“The downstream effects of this inequity, especially in mental health, were evident in the people around me, and the impact on my peers and wider community was profound,” she said. “These experiences have shaped how I view healthcare and have motivated me to pursue medicine with the intention of serving communities that have been overlooked for far too long.”