Notre Dame, with the support of Calvary Riverina, has taught final fourth year medical students in Wagga since 2011. In 2015, the intake was extended to third year students, providing an extra year of clinical experience at the hospital and extending the time that students study in the town, increasing the chance that they will remain in rural medical practice.

Professor Gabrielle Casper, Head of Gynaecology and Obstetrics along with Associate Professor Steevie Chan Associate Dean, travelled from the Notre Dame School of Medicine Sydney to present Calvary with Certificates of Appreciation for the teaching that the hospital has provided to third year medical obstetrics students since 2015.

Professor Casper noted that the clinical placements at Calvary Riverina hospital are providing exceptional results. “In 2015 the Wagga Clinical School expanded to take on Year 3 clinical teaching in Wagga. In the year 3 curriculum students have a 5 week rotation in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. In that time the academic results for the Wagga Students have been quite outstanding and the University would like to acknowledge the teaching and support that it has received from the staff and clinicians at Calvary Riverina.

“It helps ensure we provide opportunities for aspiring medical students to stay and develop their skills in important Australian rural and regional locations like Wagga Wagga.”

One such graduate is Meleseini Tai Roche.

Meleseini originally trained as a midwife and will graduate this year as a doctor.

“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to develop my career and transition from being a midwife to a doctor at Calvary Riverina Hospital.

“My husband is a senior nurse manager and we have two small children. Together we have travelled Australia working in rural and remote communities and felt that this opportunity provided the perfect circumstances for our careers and family. It is a wonderful environment for us to balance our work and family life, allowing my husband to work part time and help look after the children while I studied to become a doctor.”

Robin Haberecht, General Manager of Calvary Riverina Hospital is delighted to see the progress of the students and the joint opportunities that are evolving as the local Wagga universities and hospitals work together. “We all work in partnership to create the best environment to retain our medical professionals and providing pathways to excellent medical training and support and jobs is important to us.

Developed in conjunction with Calvary Riverina Private Hospital, the Wagga Wagga Rural Clinical School opened in June 2011 and on 4 August 2014, a standalone, purpose built clinical school building was officially opened on the hospital grounds as part of a project funded by the Commonwealth Government under a Rural Clinical Schools funding grant. The partnership between Notre Dame University and Calvary Riverina facilitates advanced specialty training for medical graduates, providing opportunities to attract and retain specialists within the region.