The current program is scheduled for December 2023, and is closed for applications. The next program will take place in 2024. 

Applicants must ensure they are able to commit to being on the program for the whole time.

The program provides current medical, allied health and health students who have completed at least a year of study with the opportunity to experience Heart of Australia’s innovative service delivery model.

Students will spend their blocks immersed in Heart of Australia’s program, experiencing the locations, the communities, the medicine and the logistics that make it all happen.

Students will:

• Gain first hand, in-person insights into the health inequity in rural and remote Australia, meeting real people and hearing their stories.
• Gain first-hand acess to healthcare practice in a mobile clinic in rural settings.
• Understand the life-saving and life-changing impact that specialists can have in rural and remote communities
• Experience how easy it is to practice specialist medicine on our mobile medical clinics with the support of the Heart of Australia logistical, administrative and clinical teams
• Understand how they can contribute to rural and remote medicine with just a few days each quarter – without making a permanent move or relocating to the bush.
• Experience and fall in love with the beauty of the Australian Outback – its landscapes, communities and characters.

Specialist services currently being offered on the ‘Heart Trucks’ include cardiology, cardiac sonography, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, radiology, neurology, psychology and sleep and respiratory services.

Where scheduling allows we aim for NextGen Medics students to engage with a minimum of two specialities, plus cardiac sonography and radiology.

The NextGen Medics program is open to students who are currently enrolled as students (in good standing) in a medical, allied health or health-related degree and have completed one year of study.

NextGen Medics welcomes applications from students based outside Australia and from across the country.

This year we will be increasing our intake of students to provide more opportunities to those who are passionate about pursuing rural health. 20 students will participate in the 2023 NextGen Medics Program.

Small cohorts provide an excellent opportunity for enhanced engagement with our team while also accommodating the logistical constraints of working on-board the Heart Trucks.

• Students (medical, allied health and health students) who have a strong interest in rural and regional medicine and health care.
• Students who are interested in making a difference to communities experiencing health inequity.
• Students who are interested in learning what it is like to be a doctor (or health professional) in rural and regional Queensland, and the pathways to making it happen.
• Students who are considering becoming specialists and are curious about how you can help rural and regional communities with just a few days work a quarter.
• Students who have demonstrated their commitment to rural and regional health care through club memberships, placement or course selections and alike will be highly regarded.
• Students who have an existing connection to rural and regional communities and who are eager to serve those communities.

• An exclusive experience very few students have the opportunity to enjoy.
• The opportunity to experience clinical hours in a unique, innovative, mobile clinic setting.
• The opportunity to experience the mobilisation and medicine for rural and remote communities.
• The opportunity to experience rural and remote communities.
• The opportunity to engage with Heart of Australia’s highly experienced specialists in a small group cohort setting.
• The opportunity to make connections with leading health professionals in rural and remote Queensland,
• The opportunity to start understanding and charting their rural career pathway.

Heart of Australia is proud to offer scholarships for the 20 student places in the 2023 cohorts, with support from the Federal Government and our program partners Boehringer Ingelheim. 

Costs covered by the program include:

• The costs associated with air and ground transport (as required) to transfer students to and from our Heart Trucks in their rural and regional locations
• Overnight accommodation during multi-day remote blocks
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day during blocks
• NextGen student polo shirts (uniforms)
• Programmed tourist attraction entry (refer program)
• Administration and logistics
• Programming

Please note the scholarships make this program highly desirable and the application process highly competitive. All NextGen Medics are strongly encouraged to attend the Annual Gala, which will cost approximately $195.

The program fee covers all the main costs. Additional items you might like to budget for include snacks, tourist souvenirs, and non-scheduled attractions.

Transport between the students’ home and Headquarters or the nominated departure/arrivals airport is the student’s responsibility.