Monash University is working to train more GPs to work in Sunraysia and other parts of rural and regional Australia, with the Monash Mildura GP Academy opening applications for 2027.
Funded by the Federal Government, the Monash Mildura GP Academy is training the next generation of rural and regional doctors through a dedicated primary care pathway for 10 students a year to study local and stay local.
The course was first announced in December 2025 and welcomed its inaugural cohort to the four-year graduate-entry medical degree this year.
While the University’s medical degree has previously required students to spend time in various metro and other regional locations, this pathway will allow students to study their course in Mildura from start to finish.
Students will become part of the community, making them more likely to stay local after graduation and make an impact where it matters most.
Monash Mildura GP Academy will also support a community of practice of junior doctors, GPs and Rural Generalists (RGs) to support their professional development and increase retention in the region.
Monash Rural Health Head of School, Professor Shane Bullock, said the Monash Mildura General Practice Academy will create long-term change in the region, keeping doctors in the local community and helping them thrive in their careers.
“With Sunraysia, the Riverland and far west NSW among the most underserved regions for GPs in Australia, addressing the shortage of GPs and RGs is critical,” Professor Bullock said.
“Our program works in partnership with the local community and our passionate Mildura staff to ensure these students get the best possible start and are supported to remain local.
“In coming years, as these students graduate and enter the workforce, we expect that it is going to be a game-changer for the region.”
The program is open to graduate students who have lived in Mildura or another rural area for at least five years, or 10 years non-consecutively, encouraging students who grew up local but moved to a city to return.
Applicants must have completed their first degree, an eligible health or science degree, within the past 10 years.
However, a change for 2027 means people may be eligible to apply if they have completed further tertiary study or maintained their knowledge during employment in a clinical, scientific, or health-related role.
Students will work closely with the community through a diverse range of primary care placements, including First Nations health services, in an innovative program designed in collaboration with local health partners.
They will have the opportunity for hands-on learning about the specific and unique health needs of Indigenous, rural and regional communities.
Professor Bullock said students have shown great commitment and passion for rural healthcare in their first year of study.
“We are so proud of our students and the future looks bright for our next generation of rural GPs and RGs,” Professor Bullock said.
“But we also know how important it is to continue supporting junior doctors once they have entered the workforce, and that’s why our model includes a community of practice with ongoing professional development and research opportunities.
“We are proud of the way we are transforming rural health training and are excited about welcoming the next cohort of students in 2027.”
Learn more about the Monash Mildura General Practice Academy at monash.edu/medicine/mildura or call Monash Rural Health Mildura on 03 5022 5500.
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