RDN Share
Spring is a season of new beginnings and last Thursday 3 September, 900 young people signalled a fresh start for the future of rural healthcare by bringing energy, curiosity and a growing enthusiasm for a career in rural health!
85 high schools from across New South Wales participated in the 2026 Rural Health Pathways Showcase hosted by RDN Health at the ICC Darling Harbour, with attendance and exhibitor numbers growing significantly following the inaugural event last year.
59 of the participating high schools were Sydney-based and 26 were regional schools with students, parents and teachers travelling from as far as Grafton in the North and Ulladulla in the South to be part of the event which hit capacity in the day.
The Showcase was open to students in Years 9-12 who expressed an interest in a career in allied health, medicine, nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, paramedicine, Aboriginal Health and more. They heard from industry professionals and had the opportunity to speak with more than 30 exhibitors and took part in practical, hands-on workshops to experience, first-hand, how rewarding a rural health career can be!
2026 NSW Young Australian of the Year Nominee and dental health advocate Dr Rand Younes delivered the keynote address drawing on her own inspiring life story to encourage students to consider a rural career pathway.
Dr Younes told students how she went to dental school in Orange in rural NSW and learnt about the discrepancies between city healthcare and rural healthcare. So, at age 17, she took it upon herself to do something about it.
After migrating to Australia with very little English at age 11, Dr Younes became a "city girl" who dreamed of becoming a dentist. Studying dentistry at Charles Sturt University in Orange enabled her to fulfil that dream and opened her eyes to the healthcare discrepancies between city and bush. So, at age 17, she took it upon herself to do something about it.
Dr Younes founded, and now runs, a mobile dental initiative called Pearly to help provide dental health ro rural and regional communities so no child misses out on dental care because of cost, distance or fear.
“That led to educating 150,000 children and 40,000 kids treated - and we are on a mission to make healthcare more accessible in Australia,” Dr Younes told students.
Year 10 student from Willoughby Girls High School, Nhaysa, attended the first Showcase last year, came this year and is already planning to return in 2027 and 2028!
“It’s really fun and I wish to do it again next year and until I'm in Year 12, so I know which way I'm going because I love anything medicine…,” Nhaysa said.
“There’s a lot of people who need help outside of cities…and it's actually making me want to consider moving to Orange more so that I could at least help make a difference somehow,” she said.
Some of the exhibitors sharing their passion for rural health included the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section, The University of Notre Dame Australia, University of New South Wales Medicine and Health, Charles Sturt University, Three Rivers Department of Rural Health and the Australian Catholic University.
Rural Health Pathways Showcase Manager, Ang Kerr, said the day was a wonderful opportunity for students to ‘see it, try it and do it’ in a one-stop-shop tailored to them.
“We had so many health professionals, industry experts and exhibitors excited to come along and share their story because they are passionate about rural health and we are so thankful for their time, knowledge and expertise,” Ang said.
“The Showcase was a wonderful success and a great opportunity for us to continue spreading the word about just how rewarding a career in the bush can be,” she said.
Careers Advisor and Teacher at North Sydney Girls High School (NSGHS), Fionna Hrcka said NSGHS was grateful to attend, as they want to provide students with as much insight as possible into how they can build their future pathways.
“It was incredibly valuable to hear the real-life stories of study and career journeys from current students and industry professionals,” Fionna said.
“This is such vital information for students to hear, as it allows them to see the diversity of pathways people take to reach their goals and understand that there are many avenues into careers in health.
“The greater access and exposure students have to industry professionals, tertiary providers and inspiring speakers, the more informed they will be when making decisions about their own future and realise each step forward is a step in the right direction,” Fionna said.
Ang Kerr says the growing interest shows there’s clearly at appetite for high school students wanting to know what a rural or regional career could look like.
“What we’re finding are students not only asking 'how can this career benefit me?' but also, 'how can I make a difference, and be part of, a community?' and a rural health career ticks so many professional and lifestyle boxes!” she said.
“People want to make a real difference and feel they’re giving back to their community. My hope is that the Showcase provided an opportunity for students to think outside the city– to see the need in rural and regional NSW and how beneficial it can be, professionally and personally.
“Be part of a community who needs you and will value you -I encourage anyone interested in learning more to visit rdnhealth.org,” Ang said.
