New research published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health has revealed growing financial pressures on nursing and allied health students undertaking rural clinical placements, raising concerns about barriers to building Australia's future rural health workforce.
The commentary, Placement Poverty in Rural Health Training: A Persistent Structural Barrier, analysed survey data collected by the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) of The University of Western Australia between 2017 and 2024.
It found the proportion of students reporting they were concerned or very concerned about their finances increased from 29.6 per cent in 2017 to 38.2 per cent in 2024, highlighting a significant rise in financial stress among students undertaking rural placements.
Students reported a range of financial challenges, including loss of employment income while on placement, paying for accommodation both at home and in placement locations, travel expenses and higher living costs. Many described relying on savings or experiencing financial strain during extended clinical placements.
Lead author Dr Astrid Turner, Senior Lecturer at WACRH, said the findings highlight the growing gap between the recognised value of rural placements and the financial burden many students face to undertake them.
"Rural placements are one of the strongest pathways into the rural health workforce, but many students are telling us that the financial cost of participating is becoming increasingly difficult to manage," said Dr Turner.
"Our data show concerns about finances have increased substantially in recent years, driven by cost-of-living pressures, lost income opportunities and the additional expenses associated with living away from home. If we want more graduates to experience rural practice and ultimately work in regional communities, we need support systems that reflect the real costs students face."
The paper notes that while the Australian Government's Commonwealth Prac Payment and the planned expansion of eligibility to additional allied health disciplines from 2027 are positive developments, the payment is not specifically designed to address the additional costs associated with rural and remote placements.
The authors argue that greater financial support for students undertaking rural placements will be essential to achieving national goals to strengthen the rural health workforce, particularly as universities and training providers encourage longer and more frequent rural placement experiences.
Publication: Placement Poverty in Rural Health Training: A Persistent Structural Barrier, published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajr.70246
Photo caption: Speech pathology student Leilani and dietetics student Georgia on a rural and remote placement with the WA Centre for Rural Health in Cue, Western Australia.