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Charles Sturt University has reached a landmark moment in regional healthcare with the first cohort of students completing the Joint Program in Medicine, delivered in partnership with Western Sydney University. Of the initial 38 students who began in 2021, more than 80% are set to start their careers in rural and regional practice.
The program was established to address chronic shortages of healthcare professionals in regional, rural, and remote communities. By training doctors in these settings, Charles Sturt is helping to improve health outcomes, reduce preventable hospitalisations, and increase life expectancy outside metropolitan areas.
From 2026, Charles Sturt will independently deliver the Doctor of Medicine program, following accreditation by the Australian Medical Council. This makes CSU one of the few regional universities in Australia to train doctors from start to finish. The University has also been allocated an additional 10 Commonwealth-Supported Places, further expanding opportunities for students to study and practice in regional areas.
Students in the program spend their first two years at CSU’s state-of-the-art Orange campus, followed by extensive clinical placements across regional New South Wales.
The collaboration with Western Sydney University has created a rigorous and innovative curriculum tailored to regional healthcare needs. While CSU will now carry the program forward independently, the partnership continues through research, placements, and broader health initiatives.
The first cohort’s completion in 2025 and the expansion of Commonwealth-Supported Places mark a defining moment for Charles Sturt University and regional Australia, strengthening the University’s contribution to addressing the critical doctor shortage across the country.
Campus
Orange campus
Partners
Western Sydney University