Locations

Man walking on rocks near the ocean

From South Australia’s wine regions—the Barossa Valley, the Clare Valley, or the rolling hills and coastal areas of the mid north and Yorke Peninsula—to the western regional centres of Whyalla and Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula, medical students can undertake clinical placements in a range of rural and remote locations.

Each of our rural training sites provide unique opportunities in Aboriginal health, community engagement and rural lifestyle.

Each centre typically has a local Student Support Coordinator who manages various aspects of clinical placements, including accommodation, timetabling and local orientation. They have local knowledge and experience, and can assist you with any questions about the region and placement. In addition, there is also a Clinical Academic to supervise and mentor you throughout your placement.

Within one hours’ drive from Adelaide, the Barossa is a world-renowned wine region also known for its local gourmet food. The area includes a number of picturesque towns such as Kapunda, Tanunda and Angaston, which all have local hospitals utilised for student learning. Placements in the Barossa are available in years 5 and 6.


Our students are based at one of the local general practices and have the opportunity to assist with hands-on clinical supervision and parallel consulting. While in the Barossa, you will be involved in patient care at hospitals, hospital rounds, on-call duties and supervised study time.

Year 5

Year 5 will participate in many consulting and operating sessions (some GP and some visiting and resident specialists) each week, in addition to involvement in the treatment of a large variety of acute, emergency and chronic medical conditions in both hospital inpatients and outpatients.

You will have the opportunity to actively participate in the care of patients over the whole year. This will give you first-hand longitudinal experience of medical illness, its natural history, diagnosis, management and how it affects the family, workplace and community in which an individual lives.

One day per week is usually 'University Day', with all students meeting for tutorials, specialist visits, inter-professional education and video conferences. On other days, you’ll be available for hands-on clinical supervision, parallel consulting, hospital rounds, on-call duties and supervised study time.

You will attend the local hospital with your GP supervisors for a range of activities, such as ward rounds, patient admissions and on-call duties. Hospitals are located at Kapunda, Tanunda and Angaston.

The Barossa Valley Doctor of Medicine Rural Stream (MDRS) program is a collaboration between Adelaide University and Flinders University. You will work alongside medical students from Flinders University and experience the best of what both universities have to offer.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available.

Find out more about the Barossa.

Broken Hill is located in the Far West region of New South Wales. It is close to the South Australian border and has a population of approximately 18,000 people—8.4% of which are Indigenous. Broken Hill is famous for its mining, amazing history and taste for art, architecture and the finer things in life. Placements in Broken Hill are available in years 4, 5 and 6.

A placement at Broken Hill is rich in opportunities and offers a varied and rewarding experience. You will have the opportunity to undertake placements in a busy regional hospital or community-based activities within a primary health care framework. You will receive direct hands-on experience and work with highly trained health professionals.

Year 4

Eight-week surgical placements are available in Broken Hill to Year 4 medical students for the final rotation of the year only. During your placement, you will be supervised by experienced rural surgeons, practitioners, and visiting surgeons.  You will become actively involved in patient management and have the opportunity for hands-on learning by assisting in surgical procedures under appropriate supervision.

Year 5

Year 5 medical students can undertake a year-long integrated placement in Broken Hill as part of the Extended Clinical Placement Program (ECPP).

A placement in Broken Hill is made up of hospital-based obstetrics and gynaecology, Emergency Department, GP parallel consulting, and four weeks at the remote site of either Bourke or Wilcannia—providing an opportunity to work in small isolated communities that offer a unique Indigenous health experience.

The Broken Hill placement offers a number of extra, exciting experiences. These include Indigenous health, rural and remote medicine, inter-professional learning, and special practical skills learned in our simulation lab.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week hospital placements may be available.

Find out more about Broken Hill.

Ceduna lies about 400km west of Port Lincoln, with a population of just over 2,000 people.  The town and surrounding areas are well known for their oysters, fishing and pristine beaches, many of which are ideal for surfing. Placements in Ceduna are available in year 5.

Year 5

Ceduna offers an integrated teaching program, with students largely in the GP clinic parallel consulting. This site offers significant opportunities for students with a keen interest in Aboriginal health.

When students aren’t in GP clinic, other placement opportunities include the skin excision clinic (lots of suture practice!), the Emergency Department, ward rounds in the Ceduna hospital/aged care facility, sitting in on specialist clinic, assisting with visiting surgeons, Yadu Health clinic, outreach visits to local aboriginal communities, and paramedic ride along days.

Students will be based in Ceduna for one semester and spend the other semester based in Pt Lincoln.

Clare is located two hours’ drive north of Adelaide and consists of one of South Australia’s oldest wine regions, the Clare Valley. It is also home to the Riesling Trail and a 35km cycling trail that passes by local cafes and wineries in the region. Placements in Clare are available in years 5 and 6.

On placement, you will be based at general practices in towns throughout Clare. You will be exposed to different specialisations, including anaesthetics, surgery, obstetrics and women’s health.

Year 5

During a placement at Clare, you will be based at Clare Medical Centre for experience in general practice and at times, other clinics at Snowtown and Burra where you will be exposed to diverse experiences. You will have the opportunity to undertake parallel consulting, practise your suturing skills, and be rostered alongside the on call doctor.

While at Clare, you will be rostered to five clinical sessions per week with a supervising doctor and you’ll attend video conferencing tutorials. You will also undertake a six-week obstetrics and gynaecology placement at Port Augusta.

Clare Medical Centre has GPs with a number of specialisations, such as anaesthetics, surgery, obstetrics, mental health, pain management and women's health. You will be assigned to local GP anaesthetists to experience theatre with visiting specialists across a wide range of disciplines.

There are many sports and leisure activities in Clare, and the Student Coordinator can advise you about what’s on offer.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available.

Find out more about Clare.

Jamestown is a rural town located around two and a half hours north of Adelaide in South Australia’s Mid North region. Known for its strong agricultural roots, welcoming community and peaceful surroundings, Jamestown offers students a supportive environment to experience both general practice and hospital-based placements. Jamestown provides exciting opportunities for hands-on learning and rural clinical exposure. Placements in Jamestown are available in years 5 and 6.

Mount Barker is the largest town in the Adelaide Hills, with over 40,000 residents.

It is the fastest growing town in rural South Australia and is a busy centre for the Adelaide Hills region. Placements in Mount Barker are available in years 5 and 6.

At Mount Barker, you will be based at GPcare, a busy general practice located in the Summit Health Centre. The Summit Health Centre is a large multidisciplinary centre offering a range of services including general practice, medical and surgical specialists, community health, mental health and allied health.

You will also work next door at the Mount Barker Hospital in obstetrics, theatre and EDcare, a 24/7 accident and emergency service staffed by local doctors and run by Summit Health.

Year 5

The Mount Barker placement is a 36-week integrated program consisting of paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, geriatrics, anaesthesia and general practice. All aspects of the program are covered weekly, rather than in block rotations. You will have at least five contact sessions per week with GPs or specialists, plus video conferences and tutorials in our dedicated learning area.

Based at the state-of-the-art Summit Health Centre, you will take part in parallel consulting sessions with GPs in GPcare and will also work at the Mount Barker Hospital.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available.

Find out more about Mount Barker.

Situated on the Limestone Coast, Mount Gambier is the third largest city in South Australia with a population of around 30,000. The area is famous for its limestone caves, sinkholes and the Blue Lake. Placements in Mount Gambier are available in years 4 and 6.

Blue Lake in Mount Gambier

Students will be based at the Mount Gambier Hospital, which has recently been upgraded to include new wards and specialist facilities.

Year 4

Mount Gambier offers eight-week surgical placements for fourth year medical students. You will learn under highly experienced rural surgeons, practitioners, and visiting surgeons from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Royal Adelaide Hospital. During your placement you will become actively involved in patient management and have the opportunity for hands-on learning by assisting in surgical procedures under appropriate supervision.

Placements in Mount Gambier are coordinated by Flinders Rural Health SA and you may work alongside medical students from Flinders University during your placement.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available.

Find out more about Mount Gambier.

Port Augusta is located at the top of the Spencer Gulf and at the foothills of the Flinders Ranges. Being both on the coast and at the gateway to the Flinders Ranges, this is an ideal location for those with a passion for the outdoors. Placements in Port Augusta are available in years 4, 5 and 6.

Year 4

The Year 4 program in Port Augusta is a nine-week surgical placement. You will learn under the guidance of rural surgeons, practitioners and visiting surgeons from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Royal Adelaide Hospital. During your placement you will become actively involved in patient management and have the opportunity for hands-on learning by assisting in surgical procedures under appropriate supervision.

Year 5

The Year 5 clinical placement program at Port Augusta consists of block rotations in each semester for both paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology.  

GP placements are integrated throughout the rest of the program and include regular visits to Kanyaka Surgery in Quorn, the Pika Wiya Health Service - Aboriginal Corporation and anaesthetics at the Port Augusta Hospital.

Specialists regularly visit Port Augusta, including an orthopaedic surgeon, cardiologist, ophthalmologists, thoracic specialists, nephrologists, respiratory physicians, plastic surgeons and ENT surgeons—among others.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available.

Port Lincoln is a seaside town on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. Affectionately known as the seafood capital of Australia, it’s an ideal location for outdoor activities with beautiful beaches and national parks nearby. Placements in Port Lincoln are available in years 5 and 6.

Year 4

Eight-week surgical placements are available in Pt Lincoln to Year 4 medical students. During your placement, you will be supervised by experienced rural surgeons, practitioners, and visiting surgeons from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Royal Adelaide Hospital. You will become actively involved in patient management and have the opportunity for hands-on learning by assisting in surgical procedures under appropriate supervision.

Year 5

A placement at Port Lincoln provides opportunities to deliver health care to regional communities and rotate through specialties such as anaesthetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and general practice. You will also have access to varied specialists including cardiology, ENT, gynaecology, geriatrics, dermatology, psychiatry and palliative care.

Students also undertake a minimum of three shifts in accident and emergency each month, and work with visiting specialists. Port Lincoln is serviced by a variety of specialists, including gynaecologists, ENT specialists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, urologists, vascular surgeons, ophthalmologists, orthopaedic specialists, and geriatricians. Students will visit the Port Lincoln Special School and the Tobruk Centre for Children's Development. University and local GP-led tutorials are held twice a week.

Students will also spend a number of weeks in Tumby Bay, a small town seaside town approximately 50 km north of Pt Lincoln, with lots of opportunity to parallel consult and experience primary health care in a general practice and small rural hospital setting.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available.

Find out more about Port Lincoln.

Port Pirie is a seaport situated between the Spencer Gulf and the Southern Flinders Ranges. The locals are known for their love of sport and the area boasts some excellent sporting facilities. Crystal Brook is small town located 30km from Port Pirie. The town lies on the Heysen Trail making it a great spot for keen walkers. Placements in Port Pirie are available in Year 5.

Students based in Port Pirie will undertake placements in GP clinics at the Crystal Brook Medical Practice and the Laura District Medical Practice.

Year 5

As a Year 5 medical student in Port Pirie, your placement will include eight-to-nine weeks in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, seven weeks throughout the year in the Pt Pirie Hospital Emergency Department and regular sessions with Crystal Brook Medical Practice and Laura District Medical Practice. University tutorials take place several times a week, and you will also take tutorials with a local GP.

In Port Pirie, students have the opportunity to work with visiting specialists and anaesthetists.  Specialists visit on a regular basis, including orthopaedic surgeons, ENT surgeon, cardiologist, paediatrician, urologist, plastic surgeon, ophthalmologist, nephrologist, child psychiatrist, oncologist, respiratory physician, vascular surgeon, geriatrician, neurologist, dermatologist, and rheumatologist.  

You may also be rostered with SA Ambulance Service, Aboriginal Health team for school visits, Pain Clinic, Renal Dialysis Unit, Child and Family Health Services, Mid North Education Centre (special school), or with various other allied health professionals.

Find out more about Port Pirie.

Roxby Downs is a small outback mining town with a population of 4500, located 550 km north of Adelaide. Due to it's close proximity to Olympic Dam, there is an additional transient fly-in fly-out (FIFO) population of around 1000 people. The surrounding area is home to the Arid Recovery Reserve, a protected area dedicated to the restoration of Australia's arid lands. Placements in Roxby Downs are available in year 5.

Year 5

Roxby offers an integrated teaching program, with students largely in the GP clinic parallel consulting. There are also opportunities to be on call at the local hospital with a local GP, visiting specialist clinics and travelling to Woomera to participate in a clinic for defence force personnel. Roxby is a mining community with a young population so there are lots of opportunities to see paediatric and antenatal patients. Students based in Roxby will spend 1 semester there and 1 semester in Whyalla. During the semester in Whyalla, students will mostly do hospital placements covering obstetrics & gynaecology, emergency, general medicine and anaesthetics.

Whyalla is one of the largest regional hubs on the Eyre Peninsula. A large population of 22,000 and the benefits of modern shopping facilities make this a vibrant and bustling location. Placements in Whyalla are available in years 4, 5 and 6.

Year 4

Eight-week surgical placements are available in Whyalla to Year 4 medical students. During your placement, you will be supervised by experienced rural surgeons, practitioners, and visiting surgeons from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Royal Adelaide Hospital. You will become actively involved in patient management and have the opportunity for hands-on learning by assisting in surgical procedures under appropriate supervision.

Year 5

The year-long placement is an integrated program with opportunities in both the hospital and general practice. Whyalla Hospital boasts a range of specialists in areas such as obstetrics and gynaecology, medicine and anaesthetics, which presents the opportunity for learning blocks in each of the disciplines.  There is also opportunity to undertake placement at local GP clinics and work in the emergency department.

Students will also spend a number of weeks in Cummins, a small town approximately 250 km south west of Whyalla, with lots of opportunity to parallel consult and experience primary health care in a general practice and small rural hospital setting.

There is also the opportunity for four students to spend one semester based in Roxby Downs.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available in Whyalla.

Find out more about Whyalla.

The Yorke Peninsula is a popular seaside holiday destination with tourists, just a two-hour drive from Adelaide.

The coastline boasts many beautiful beaches that are perfect for surfing, diving, fishing, or just kicking back to relax. There is also a variety of special interest, social and cultural groups in the area covering gardening, music, poetry, art, fitness, theatre and more. Placements in the Yorke Peninsula are available in years 5 and 6.

With a focus on integrated learning, medical students on placement on the Yorke Peninsula will rotate through General Practices in the ‘Copper Triangle’—which incorporates the towns of Kadina, Wallaroo and Moonta.

Year 5

The Yorke Peninsula offers wide and varied clinical exposure at Kadina Medical Associates, Moonta Medical Clinic, Owen Terrace Medical in Wallaroo, and Wallaroo Hospital and Health Services.

Placement will be led by experienced local GPs, registrars and nurses. Students will have the opportunity to conduct seven supervised consulting sessions per week and get involved in parallel consulting, hospital rounds, and nursing home visits. Visiting specialists will also stop by the region on a monthly basis.

A placement based at Kadina Medical Associates provides comprehensive training covering all aspects of medicine, including obstetrics, anaesthetics and surgery. You will have an opportunity to participate in a midwife-led obstetric program.

At Owen Terrace Medical, Wallaroo, students will practice general medicine—including family health, aged care, and acute and chronic illness with a focus on keeping patients out of hospital.

The Wallaroo Hospital and Health Services serves the Copper Triangle and surrounding areas. If placed here, students will service a 21 bed hospital comprised of inpatient care for adults and children, palliative care, a large variety of visiting specialists, a 24 hour accident and emergency department, and a seven bed private hospital.

While living on the Yorke Peninsula you may work with some of the 22 visiting specialists, covering a wide range of disciplines.

Year 6

Opportunities for four-week rural general practice placements are available.

Find out more about the Copper Triangle.