The Rural Clinical School of WA

An innovative sand-animation video created by Aboriginal children is helping spread the word about a project to identify childhood exposure to heavy metals across WA's remote communities.

Led by The University of Western Australia and RCSWA researchers, the Heavy Metal Tooth Fairy Project is analysing the geochemical signatures in at least 250 donated deciduous (baby) teeth from children across regional and remote communities.

Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, copper, mercury and zinc occur naturally in the environment but can leach into ground water and contribute to adverse health outcomes.

A key component of the project is its community-led approach, with Aboriginal research assistants supporting remote community members to develop skills in drinking water testing, environmental health, STEM and dental hygiene.

The project is funded by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Glencore Minara Resources Community Foundation, WA Government Future Health Research and Innovation Fund, UWA and RCSWA.

📽 Watch the sand-animation https://youtu.be/qVY4clocmVU?si=2PmQPUd9H7pSFmwW

🧚‍♀️ Read more https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2026/august/aboriginal-children-helping-tooth-fairy-on-a-mission

UWA Research

Great opportunity! Applications close 31 August

*Ngalla Bidi Bursary applications now open*

The Ngalla Bidi Bursary provides financial support for Aboriginal medical students and junior doctors to attend the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress (PRIDoC), a cultural event that inspires their journey towards becoming future leaders in healthcare.

You are eligible to apply for the bursary if you:
✅ are an Aboriginal Medical Student and Junior Doctor
✅ currently reside in Western Australia
✅ have or intend to register to attend the biennial PRIDoC
✅ have not received a bursary for this purpose from any other organisation
-

Applications are now open for the Ngalla Bidi Bursary to attend PRIDoc 2026 in Taiwan.
📱Scan the QR code or apply online at bit.ly/ngallabidi2026

Invest in your future.
Strengthen Aboriginal healthcare.

Our Healthcare Access for Rural Practitioners (HARP) research team is hearing directly from rural doctors through personal interviews over the next two months.

These conversations will help us better understand how rural and remote doctors access healthcare and wellbeing services for themselves and their families, and what support may be needed to improve access in the future.

The HARP Project is supported by the RACGP with funding from the Australian Government under the General Practice Training Program.

If you are a doctor who has spent at least 12 consecutive months living and working in a rural or remote area of WA within the past five years, we would like to hear your story.

You will receive a transcript of your interview before it is included in the analysis and can request the removal of any content you feel could identify you.

As a thank you, you can choose to receive a $50 voucher or a $50 donation to the Doctors Health Advisory Service Western Australia - dhaswa.

🫱🏾 Express interest in an interview via https://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1RClaV8GwISdPme?Q_CHL=qr

🤠 Country Year 12 Students and their parents/caregivers are invited to an evening webinar on Mon 31 Aug to get the latest advice on navigating the TISC application process.

RCSWA is a partnership between The University of Western Australia, The University of Notre Dame Australia, and Curtin University medical schools.

Over the past three years, the RCSWA Rural High School Medical Student Recruitment Program has mentored more than 600 high school students, providing guidance on university applications, UCAT preparation, interviews, and medical career planning.

🫱🏾 Register for our free webinar https://highschooltomedschool31Aug.eventbrite.com.au

💡For more information about our program, see https://www.uwa.edu.au/rcswa/current-and-future-medical-students/rural-high-school-program

Junior doctors curious about a future in WA rural practice are invited to tour rural communities with experienced Rural Generalists this year.

The Building Rural Insight and Discovery with General Practice Engagement (BRIDGE) program is an initiative of our Regional Training Hubs team.

Participants can discover how healthcare is delivered across agricultural communities, meet local health professionals in hospitals and GP practices, identify rural medical career pathways, and learn more about local Aboriginal culture and history.

BRIDGE is delivered in partnership with the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Medical Education Unit, Rural Generalist Pathway WA, and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). The program is free for participants and PDL accredited by WACHS.

Read more about the incredible trips planned for August to October 2026 and register 🫱🏾

BRIDGE to opportunity Junior doctors curious about a future in rural practice are invited to tour Western Australian rural communities with experienced Rural Generalists this year.

Kalgoorlie doctors! Join our team as a Senior Lecturer/Medical Coordinator and help shape the next generation of rural doctors.

We will consider appointments of 0.4FTE or 2 x 0.2FTE until December 2031 (subject to funding confirmation).

Our school is a partnership between the medical schools of UWA, University of Notre Dame Australia, and Curtin University. We employ 90 Senior Lecturers/Medical Coordinators across the state who deliver innovative medical education and training to medical students and assist in the support of preceptors and host practitioners in their regions.

Base salary range for the position is Level C, $149,909 – $172,441 p.a. (pro-rata) plus 17% superannuation. Clinical loading and rural and remote allowance applicable.

⏰️ Apply by Sunday 30 August 2026, 11.55pm.

More at https://external.jobs.uwa.edu.au/en/job/521790/senior-lecturer-medical-coordinator-kalgoorlie

We are seeking one or more Senior Lecturers/Medical Coordinators to join our fantastic Karratha team on a part-time basis until December 2031 (subject to funding confirmation). Appointments of 0.4FTE or 2 x 0.2FTE considered.

Our school is a partnership between the medical schools of UWA, University of Notre Dame Australia, and Curtin University.

Base salary range for this position is Level C, $149,909 – $172,441 p.a. (pro-rata) plus 17% superannuation. Clinical loading and rural and remote allowance applicable.

🤠 Help shape and inspire the next generation of rural doctors! Apply by Sunday 30 August 2026, 11.55pm.

More at https://external.jobs.uwa.edu.au/en/job/521789/senior-lecturer-medical-coordinator-karratha

RCSWA penultimate students are invited to apply for our 2027 Final Year Program by the extended deadline of Sunday 26 July 2026.

💻 Watch our recent webinar hosted by Final Year Coordinator and Academic Lead Dr Pippin Holmes which outlines the major features of the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpmk0xq5xOw

🫱🏾 Complete application form here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/TheRuralClinicalSchoolOfWA/_2027FinalYearApplicationForm

All applicants will be notified of an outcome by early August.

For more information, contact [email protected]

Rural Psychiatry Trainee Dr Matt Davidson shares his extraordinary career path so far in the latest edition of Southerly Magazine.

Our Albany 2017 alumnus says programs like Rural Psychiatry Training WA (RPTWA) are not just increasing the workforce, they are changing expectations of what care in the country can look like.

RPTWA allows trainees to complete their Fellowship entirely in regional WA through accredited six-month rotations in various settings.

Last year, Matt was awarded The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Rural Research Award for his research into youth mental health.

Best wishes from all of us Matt!

🫱🏾 Read the full story over pages 6-10: https://www.flipsnack.com/southerlymag/july-2026/full-view.html

💡Find out more about RPTWA: https://medcareerswa.health.wa.gov.au/wa-rural-psychiatry-training