Rural Placement Accommodation changes due to COVID-19

We realise this is an incredibly stressful time, we are so proud of the way everyone is stepping up and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy through continuing your placements. The health services are really grateful for your input I know.

Going Rural Health is here to support ALL students to complete their placements. What really helps us is for you to find suitable accommodation for yourself.

It must be:

  • Fully self-contained ideally with kitchen facilities that will allow either a rostering system or more preferably, your own kitchen facilities. Quest apartments are good options as they provide kitchenettes
  • Equipped with a bathroom, these cannot be shared
  • Shared rooms or houses are NOT an option, sorry.

The GRH team has some contacts in all of our regions and we can make suggestions of places to stay but we ask you to try to source your own accommodation first wherever possible.

STUDENTS WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS ACCOMMODATION AT ALL, REGARDLESS OF THE EXTRA COST FOR SELF-CONTAINED FACILITIES.

We need your help to book it, then get in touch with the GRH email: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au so we can arrange payment. Please provide us with a quote from the accommodation provider.

If you have capacity to pay for this yourself then please do so and provide us with the receipts.

If not, book the room and get in touch with us with a quote for the full cost for the duration of your placement. The Quest in Shepparton (for example) knows UoM and they will allow us to pay for accommodation on your behalf.

I hope this makes things a bit clearer for you but do not hesitate to contact me if you need more information.

Please also feel free to circulate this to your fellow students but I will also send this out to students myself too.

Going Rural Health Student Support Scheme

The Going Rural Health Student Support Scheme has been developed to assist students with the associated costs of accommodation and travel when completing a clinical placement in a rural setting across Hume, Ovens, Murray, Goulburn, Ballarat and Grampians regions (see the map below for more information on the locations of these regions).

For eligible students, a payment of $200per week (capped at $2,500) and subsidised accommodation at University of Melbourne owned housing, for $50 per week (subject to availability) can be offered.

International students (students from New Zealand or who have refugee status are eligible to apply) are not eligible for finance; however, they can access subsidised accommodation at UoM owned housing for $100 per week (subject to availability).

Students are to provide a completed Proof of Placement form no later than the 30th of November 2020 for Clinical Placements in the same calendar year.

Please note: it may take up to 5 days for your initial application to be reviewed. 

If your application has been successful, payment will be made via bank transfer and may take up to 4 weeks to be issued after receipt of all required documentation and completion of clinical placement.

The Going Rural Health team reserves the right to not award an allowance even if a student believes they meet all the eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Complete clinical placement within our footprint (refer to map below).
  • Travel a minimum of 50km one way from home address to placement site.
  • Be an Australian or New Zealand resident or have refugee status (evidence to be provided).
  • For RN and Allied Health students, placement must be a minimum of 2 weeks full time (no less than 4 days per week).
  • NOTE: Enrolled nursing students must complete a placement of 3 weeks or more full time (no less than 4 days per week).
  • Register all details with the Going Rural Health team either prior to, during or within 30 days of completion of your clinical placement.
  • Successfully complete clinical placement requirement and length.
  • Submit Proof of Placement form and complete the Student Placement Survey within 30 days of completion of your placement.

University of Melbourne Students

Additional funding has been made available to UoM students from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences. Application criteria are the same as above.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students:

Funding is available as above and at no cost, students can also register to be involved in a dedicated mentoring program:

  • An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health professional, where possible of the same discipline, is available to mentor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout their placement. Please contact going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au for more details.

Those NOT eligible to apply for financial support:

  • Federation University students are to apply for financial support via the Kickstart program (scholarships office).
  • Students receiving financial assistance or scholarships from other organisations including RWAV.
  • Students completing a placement as a paid Intern.
  • International students (students from New Zealand or who have refugee status are eligible to apply) are not eligible for finance; however, they can access subsidised accommodation at UoM owned housing for $100 per week (subject to availability).
  • Students completing placement in Melbourne metro or Geelong

For further information contact the Going Rural Health team via email: going-ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au

Not doing a placement in our footprint, contact ARHEN – https://arhen.org.au/about-udrhs/ to see what other UDRH’s may offer you.