Rural and regional placements
A new faculty
Medicine, and Health and Behavioural Sciences have been combined into a new faculty, Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences (HMBS), from 1 January 2025.
Some information remains on this website in the short term while we continue to build the new HMBS site.
Have you ever thought about what life is like in regional and rural Australia?
Have you ever wondered how people who live in these communities access healthcare services? Why not experience this first-hand by undertaking a life-changing rural placement!
We are committed to providing you with the opportunity to broaden your horizons and experience a rural placement supported by our Faculty’s University Department of Rural Health, Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) as well as a range of other partners throughout Queensland.
Follow SQRH on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to see what our students have been up to!
What our students say about their rural placements
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my clinical placement at Charleville and I’m grateful for the support of SQRH. To be honest I hadn’t thought about taking up a rural health career before coming out to Charleville but now I definitely would consider it. The experience was brilliant and incredibly diverse – I worked in wards, in the emergency department, attending visits with the nurse navigator, going to the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) base with ambulance staff and so much more”
Andy, UQ Nursing student
“I decided to apply for a rural placement because I was seeking a unique placement experience and couldn’t turn down the amazing opportunity! I knew the rural placement would push me and allow me to step outside of my comfort zone, helping me to grow, learn and educate myself. As well as providing me with a range of skills with the broader scope of practice seen in rural areas, compared to metro.”
Barbara, UQ Occupational Therapy student
”When you go on rural placement, even though it’s daunting, especially if you’ve grown up in the city, you find that the community out here is supportive, friendly and most importantly, genuine. You learn to grown up and get the chance to see the world through a completely different lens and your perspective on a lot of things is seen through fresh eyes.”
Anabella, UQ Speech Pathology student
Support for your rural placement
What do rural placements look like?
Lauren, Natalie and Mandy discuss their rural placements in Toowoomba as part of the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours).
Brooke spent a month discovering how Pharmacy is done in the country, travelling five hours inland to Goondiwindi.