The Rural Clinical School has taught medical students in the final years of their medical degree since 2002. Since 2025, the Rural Clinical School has trained future doctors for the entire Medical Program through the Tasmanian Rural Training Stream.
We are one of 18 Rural Clinical Schools around Australia, supported by the Commonwealth Government’s Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program, established to train health professionals in rural and remote Australia to boost workforces in those areas. Students and medical staff are increasingly choosing to study and work rurally for the unique training opportunities and experiences rural practice provides.
RCS students experience placements across the North West Coast of Tasmania in Burnie and Latrobe, with a particular focus on rural medicine, emergency care and integrated primary care. Our students are also hosted by local private General Practices and homes for people in Aged Care.
In their final years, RCS students experience rural medical placements in the communities of Smithton, Queenstown and on King Island, and are provided with a high level of hands-on rural learning opportunities alongside patients and clinicians. Students gain professional development while leading community engagement activities in schools and at local events.
The Rural Clinical School has developed a strong national reputation for excellence in rural medical education. Our students are well-equipped to work in rural or metropolitan hospitals as interns after completing their studies, and each year, our graduates are extremely successful in gaining internships at their hospitals of choice, including the nearby North-West Regional Hospital. This has been achieved by the enthusiasm of our academic team, and excellent relationships with regional health and community partners.
Rural Clinical School Community Engagement
Accommodation
The RCS has several accommodation sites across North-West Tasmania which provide students with comfortable and affordable housing options. Students who prefer more independent living are welcome to make their own private rental arrangements.
The Atrium Apartments provide high-quality accommodation for students and visiting health professionals. Located adjacent to the University's Cradle Coast campus, they are a short drive or 15-minute walk from the RCS and North-West Regional Hospital.
There are six five-bedroom apartments in total with a mixture of standard and ensuite rooms. Each apartment is fully self-contained and has an internal courtyard. BBQ facilities are available.
The apartments are situated off Mills Road in a quiet residential area and close to a bus stop that accesses the CBD. There is also a pathway linking the site to the Cradle Coast campus which has 24-hour student facilities, a café, gym and student lounge. A small supermarket is within easy walking distance of the apartments, while the Burnie CBD is approximately 25 minutes away on foot.
The West Park Apartments are modern, self-contained studios. Overlooking Burnie's beach, they are centrally located and within walking distance of the city centre.
The West Park Apartments feature a queen-sized bed, a kitchen (including fridge, stovetop, microwave/convection oven, toaster and kettle), a study area with an ergonomic chair, wardrobes and a bathroom.
Residents have complete privacy in their own apartments, however can access communal social spaces, shared laundry facilities, an on-site café within Makers' Workshop and a resident-only computer lab. Apartments are available to domestic and international students who meet eligibility requirements.
RCS students undertaking rotations at the Mersey Community Hospital have access to nearby fully-furnished houses which are complete with bedding and linen. RCS students are not charged additional rent while utilising these sites.
The RCS offers accommodation for students on rural and remote placements at designated rural health teaching sites in Smithton, Queenstown and on King Island.
For more information, please visit the Professional Experience Placement website.
Venue hire
The RCS offers access to modern teaching facilities, clinical learning environments, and seminar rooms equipped with multimedia technology. Our facilities are viewed as an important community resource, and when not in use by staff and students, these spaces are available for hire.
How to make a booking
For general bookings, please call reception on +61 3 6430 4550, or email rural.clinical.school@utas.edu.au.
Reservations for the Simulated Learning Environments can be made via online the booking system.
Educators are expected to read the Conditions and Terms of Hire (PDF 187 KB) which govern the set-up of the SLEs for teaching, use and cleaning of equipment, and maintenance. All users of the spaces are required to undertake an orientation before teaching and it is the responsibility of the clinical educator to contact SLEs staff to arrange this. Please negotiate all requirements prior to each booking, to ensure appropriate resources are available.
Further information can be found in the SLEs User Guide (PDF 1.24MB) and the Rural Clinical School Terms and Conditions of Hire (PDF 75.4 KB)
Available facilities at Burnie campus include:
- two large lecture rooms fitted with a centre folding wall to create two smaller tutorial rooms
- a standalone tutorial room
- two wet area consult rooms
- one standard consult room
- a clinical skills wet area
- Simulated Learning Environments
Lecture rooms have features which include electronic lecterns, DVD playback capability, video conferencing equipment, projectors, document cameras and computers. Consult rooms are fitted with computers and large screens.
Available facilities at Mersey campus include:
- two seminar rooms, divided with a centre folding wall which can be opened to create one large room
- Simulated Learning Environments
The seminar rooms at Mersey are equipped with electronic lecterns, DVD players, video conferencing equipment, projectors, document cameras and computers.
Simulated Learning Environments (SLEs) are located within the Burnie and Mersey campuses to promote collaborative learning opportunities and provide a setting for students, teachers and health professionals to hone and develop their clinical skills. They are restricted areas of access where high levels of security ensure the integrity of teaching, equipment and confidential information.
The SLEs are available for bookings by health professionals and undergraduates across the North-West and can be utilised on an individual or group basis. Rural Clinical School staff can also accommodate teaching and learning needs.
Equipment
We offer a vast range of equipment within the SLEs that meet the practical learning needs of health professionals. Each space has been designed and developed with equipment in consultation with practising clinicians teaching in acute and primary care.
The following equipment is available for use at both the Mersey and Burnie campuses:
- Human patient simulators
- A variety of part task trainers
- Associated simulation equipment and parts
Most equipment within the SLEs is available for use outside of our centres, and can be requested via the online booking form for equipment. The Rural Clinical School can also assist with sourcing equipment for hire externally from other clinical environments if not available on site.
