Assessment in rural health professional education

Abstract

[Extract] Well may we say that Australia is a world leader in rural health professional education, but what about rurally focused assessment? Educating students in rural areas is well established in Australia, with a wide network of Rural Clinical Schools and University Departments of Rural Health offering opportunities for students across many disciplines to undertake substantial rural experience as an integral part of their course. This rural emphasis has been accompanied by an increased rural focus in curricula and selection processes, increased recruitment of rural-origin students, and investment in infrastructure and academic and administrative appointments in rural areas to support the increased rural teaching.