NewMed was honoured to sponsor the Conference App for RMA24. The conference, held in Darwin, was a wonderfully collaborative venture between ACRRM and RDA. NewMed resonates deeply with many of the values underpinning both of these organisations, and looks forward to ongoing conversations around how we can train medical students in rural and remote placements across Australia. Thank you to the many GPs and Rural Generalists who met with us, and for the enthusiasm shown for NewMed’s program.
NewMed is advancing through regulatory processes (TEQSA, AMC) and plans for its first cohort to commence in 2026.
Students will be distributed across the country, learning through a new high-quality MD Program.
The delivery model uses advanced technologies to engage students in facilitated online small group learning, complemented by face-to-face weeks, and professionally supervised placements.
Aspiring doctors can study medicine in their home community across the first three years. Supervised clinical time in General Practice is needed for 4 hours per week in the first year, increasing to 8 hours/week (year 2) and 24 hours/week (year 3).
Year 4 will require clinical placements in towns with suitable hospitals.
Supporting your investment in the next generation, NewMed offers a stipend (similar and in addition to any PIP payments), active support and training from NewMed GP academics, and the opportunity of a local student remaining with a local practice over three years, developing their skills and contributing to care under supervision.
Would you like to support a local to become a doctor?
Please email soon GPplacements@newmedschool.com.au
On July 15th, the NewMed team uploaded the NewMed application to become a University College, to the TEQSA portal, marking the culmination of a two-year journey involving contributions from all staff. Together, they compiled 585 documents, encompassing policies, procedures, the innovative curriculum, and sample course content.
To celebrate this milestone, a dynamic two-day staff workshop was held in Brisbane, with team members from Sydney and Melbourne. The event featured collaborative discussions, strategic planning, and a special team dinner at Gusto da Gianni, where distinguished guest Ms. Taffy Gould, a pioneer in distance medical education, shared her insights. Ms Gould’s advocacy for extended community-based learning before hospital placements is supported by NewMed’s approach, benefiting students in rural and remote areas. The dinner facilitated rich conversations, shared experiences, and strengthened bonds within the NewMed team. As the team looks forward, the focus is now on continued program development, with innovative content and activities that deepen student learning and foster interactions between students and faculty.
The Medical Republic recently interviewed NewMed CEO Professor Stephen Tobin to talk about the proposed innovative new medical school. With clinical experience in general practice from the first week, the program aims to enrol 95 students, commencing in 2026 subject to regulatory approvals.
Professor Tobin emphasised the need for more graduate doctors in regional and rural areas. The program is designed around a geographically distributed model allowing students to study in their local communities.
Read more about this on The Medical Republic here.
The Queensland branch of the Rural Doctors Association held their 2024 annual conference at the Brisbane Convention Centre. NewMed took out a sponsorship kiosk at the event, in order to introduce the medical world to our brand, vision and values. Our CEO, Professor Stephen Tobin and Independent Board Director Dr. Brad Murphy were joined by Associate Professors Iulia Oancea and Sue Hawken to represent NewMed. Their mission was to talk to rural GPs, practice owners and college leadership about clinical placements, and to spread the word about NewMed. Thanks to our team of dedicated academic staff who went to throw out the banner on behalf of us all!
Natasha brings expertise in medical education and extensive experience of urban, rural and remote medicine to the NewMed team. A specialist GP, Natasha has cared for patients in a range of settings, from small town clinics and hospitals, to working as a solo practitioner in remote Arnhem Land communities, as well as an urban First Nations health clinic. Her current work is in a mainstream general practice. She worked for 12 years as an Assistant Professor of general practice at Bond University, resigning from this role to pursue a PhD in Medical Education which she is currently part-way through.
In February, our Dean and curriculum team gathered in Melbourne to fine tune NewMed’s learning and teaching strategies, and discuss approaches to the development…
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NewMed is excited to announce that Dr. Sue Hawken will join the NewMed team from March 1st. Sue is an experienced medical educator, general practitioner, and professional supervisor. She developed and led the personal and professional skills domain at the University of Auckland’s medical programme and has held multiple educational leadership roles in the RNZCGP.
Sue has been a specialist general practitioner for 28 years, and has over 20 years experience teaching into the medical program at the University of Auckland. She has held multiple roles including the coordinator the Professional, Clinical and Communication Skills courses in years 2 and 3, the Phase 2 Director and creating and leading the innovative Personal and Professional Skills domain of the medical programme.
Sue’s teaching philosophy is to model a student-centred approach for learners as a pathway to understanding the elements of providing patient-centred care.
Stephen Tobin will commence on 15/01/2023 as NewMed’s CEO and Dean. Stephen is a highly acclaimed educator and surgeon who has championed innovative and collaborative approaches to the teaching of medicine. He practised as a surgeon in regional Victoria and worked with three medical schools there. Stephen has held senior roles in Australian clinical education, including Dean of Education at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and latterly Associate Dean of Clinical Education at Western Sydney University School of Medicine.
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Brad Murphy OAM was appointed on 1/11/2023 to the NewMed Board as an independent director. Brad is a proud Kamilaroi man from north-western NSW who is now based in Bundaberg.
A Rural Generalist and GP Practice Owner, Brad has a long history in medico-politics, advocacy and academia. Throughout his celebrated career he has sought to identify how health care can be made better and more sustainable for all Australians, including the professionals who deliver that care.
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