New and returning students at The Rural Clinical School welcomed to Narrogin at council ceremony.

The Rural Clinical School of WA has welcomed its class of 2021 to Narrogin. Four fresh faces from Perth will study their penultimate year of medicine in Narrogin under the guidance of the RCSWA. Students Fraser Pensini, Ziwei Mao, Luan Louw and Caitlyn Thompson were on the job straight away when they arrived in late January, starting their training at the Narrogin Health Service. Mr Pensini said it was a privilege to be studying at the “amazing” medical facilities in Narrogin. “Our first few weeks have been a whirlwind tour,” he said. “We can’t wait to progress with our studies. “What we have learnt in the past two weeks already surpasses what we learnt in 12 weeks last year. “We’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far, and there are many more minutes to come.” Mr Mao said the best part about working with the Rural Clinical School WA was the hands-on experience. “We don’t know what we are exactly going to get every day,” he said. “We are experiencing medicine for what it really is.” He said the regional learning experience was much more valuable than the training he would receive in the city. “I’m already trying to convince my friends in lower years back in Perth to join RCSWA and come to Narrogin,” he said. “We want to ensure that people in regional communities are receiving the same quality of healthcare that can be received back in Perth.” The medical students join Dr Elly Harris, who is the latest former RCSWA medical student to return to Narrogin as part of her junior doctor training. “My year in Narrogin as part of RCSWA was by far my most enjoyable year of medical school,” she said. “All of the doctors in town are so willing to support junior doctors and students to develop excellent clinical skills and reasoning. “The community was very welcoming, the staff at the hospital are kind and supportive, and I got to play the hockey season with the Robins.” In addition to her time working at the hospital, Dr Harris works one day a week at the Wheatbelt Health Service. “It’s lovely to feel so welcomed and to feel I am giving back to a community that has supported me through my medical training journey,” she said. Shire of Narrogin deputy president Tim Wiese welcomed the new and returning students back to the region. “I know a strong medical representation in a regional town is a sign of good community health,” he said.