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If you’re studying a health science degree, chances are you’ve thought about where your next placement might take you. You could stay local or you could take the opportunity to go rural.
Rural health placements offer something truly unique. Not just in location, but in the kind of experience you’ll walk away with. Here are five reasons why choosing a rural placement this semester might be the smartest move you make for your future career:
1. Hands-on learning you won’t get anywhere else
In rural and remote settings, you’re not just another student sitting on the sidelines. You’re part of the team and often, you’ll get the chance to do more, see more and learn more because of it.
Whether you’re in physiotherapy, nursing, speech pathology or another health science field, rural placements tend to involve smaller teams and fewer layers of hierarchy. That means you’re more likely to be trusted with meaningful tasks, build confidence quickly and actively contribute to patient care.
You’ll gain practical skills faster, which can set you apart when it’s time to apply for graduate roles.
2. Every day is different in a rural environment
One of the best things about working in rural WA? The variety. One day you might be supporting a family with chronic health needs, the next you could be assisting in a remote clinic or helping to host a health education session at a local school.
You won’t see the same patients with the same conditions over and over. Instead, you’ll be exposed to a broad range of health issues, age groups and care settings. It’s the kind of diversity that sharpens your clinical reasoning and adaptability – important skills no matter where you end up working.
3. Experience interprofessional working in a collaborative setting
Rural placements are a crash course in interprofessional teamwork. With fewer professionals in each location, collaboration isn’t just optional; It’s essential.
You’ll see how nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health workers and visiting specialists coordinate care and solve problems together. You’ll learn how different disciplines communicate and contribute, and you’ll gain a better understanding of your role within the bigger picture of healthcare.
This experience builds your confidence in working as part of a team and will help prepare you for a collaborative career in the future.
4. Build your cultural capability from experience, not just lectures
Working in the Goldfields often means working with Aboriginal people and other culturally diverse communities. A placement with the Goldfields UDRH offers a unique chance to participate in their cultural education program and gain an opportunity to listen, learn and understand the social and cultural factors that influence health outcomes.
You’ll build awareness and cultural sensitivity not through slideshows or readings, but through real interactions and experiences. That kind of learning stays with you long after your placement ends and it’s something employers are actively looking for.
5. Yes, there’s adventure too
Let’s be real: going rural isn’t just about what you do during placement hours. It’s about the experience as a whole.
You’ll travel to places you may have never visited, meet people from different backgrounds and challenge yourself in ways you didn’t expect. Whether it’s watching the sunset over red dirt, participating in community events, hiking through natural bushland or just cooking dinner with your placement mates, there’s a lot to take in outside of work hours.
It’s not a holiday, it is a chance to get out of your usual routine and grow both personally and professionally.
Ready to take the leap?
Rural placements can feel like a big step, especially if you’ve never been outside the metro area for long. They’re also an opportunity to expand your skills, broaden your perspective and give your career a boost before you even graduate.
The friendly team at the Goldfields UDRH can provide more insight and information, as well as details on their financial and accommodation supports, all designed to assist with your placement in the Goldfields.
Think bigger. Go rural.
