It comes ahead of the inaugural intake of University of NSW first year medical students in Port Macquarie in 2017.

Some 33 prospective medical students had their rural student entry scheme interviews in Port Macquarie on December 1 and 2.

Interviews were in Sydney too, with a total of 115 interviews in Port Macquarie and Sydney.

UNSW expects to interview about 150 medical student hopefuls in two rural student entry scheme interview rounds with 50 places equally shared between Sydney and Port Macquarie.

University of NSW Associate Dean Rural Health and Rural Clinical School head Dr Lesley Forster confirmed it was the first time ever that UNSW Medicine had conducted the interviews outside of Sydney.

She said the Port Macquarie interviews meant prospective students did not have to travel to Sydney, they could see the facilities here and meet current students.

“I think it is a huge step in the development of the Port Macquarie medical school,” Dr Forster said.

Years three, four, five and six of UNSW’s undergraduate medical degree have run in Port Macquarie for more than a decade.

Year one will be offered in Port Macquarie for the first time in 2017.

The Port Macquarie Shared Health Research and Education Campus in Highfields Circuit was purpose-built to deliver the University of NSW six-year medical degree and new allied health programs.

The first year medicine program timetables are done, new staff members are appointed and the facilities are ready to go.

Thomas Tsang from Taree, Callum McTigue, who grew up in rural Western Australia, and Coffs Harbour’s Natalie Dierick had their interviews on December 1.

“I’d like to study rural medicine because in a rural setting there is a lack of specialties and medical services compared to cities,” Thomas said.

Callum said medicine would be a great career.

“Above all, the fact you get to help people in need really appeals to me,” he said.

“I think it would be great to be able to live and work in a rural setting.”

Natalie, who has a radiography degree under her belt, said she loved the rural lifestyle.

The rapport with patients and long-term care nature of medicine attracted her to apply for medicine at UNSW.

Applicants through UNSW’s rural entry scheme undergo a rigorous, competitive selection process.

Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic results, aptitude test results, an interview and a rural rating. 

Minimum requirements are required.

Each prospective student is interviewed by a panel of two, typically a doctor and a non-medical community member. 

Interviewers are looking for candidates with strong communication skills, empathy and dedication.

The next round of interviews is run in January.

Twenty five first year places will be on offer for medical students at Port Macquarie in 2017.