Australians living in regional, rural and remote areas face challenges accessing healthcare.
This lack of access often results in poorer health outcomes compared to people living in metropolitan areas and is partly attributed to health professionals choosing to relocate to metropolitan regions in the early stages of their career.
A key strategic priority for the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast is to offer pathways to nationally recognised professional health programs for students from our region to build our capacity to deliver healthcare for our regional communities.
A pathway for aspiring health professionals in our region
We know that students who come from regional areas to undertake their health studies are more likely to stay on and work in regional areas after they graduate.
It is with this in mind that UniSC has introduced a new admission pathway to ensure suitably qualified and talented local applicants have a pathway to study the Bachelor of Medical Science or the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) at UniSC by setting aside priority places.
The Regional Health Workforce Scheme complements existing sub-quota-based schemes including the Rural Access Scheme (for the Bachelor of Medical Science) and the Indigenous Health Admissions Pathway (IHAP) which target priority cohorts for admission to the Bachelor of Medical Science.
Am I eligible?
The Regional Health Workforce Scheme addresses the under-representation of local students in some of the University’s professional health programs through a sub-quota for domestic students who satisfy the following criteria:
- Applied as a domestic applicant through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC); and
- Satisfied the subject prerequisite and other program specific requirements for the respective program; and
- Obtained a minimum ATAR/selection rank as specified *; and
- Resided in one of the following approved Local Government Areas for at least five consecutive years or ten cumulative years:
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council
- Noosa Council
- Gympie Regional Council
*The minimum score and number of places set aside will be determined annually by the Dean of the School of Health. This will be based on the competitiveness of the entire applicant pool. Eligible applicants will be ranked in merit order using the ATAR/Rank. For the Bachelor of Medical Science, the Overall Score from the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ), if available, will be used for second order ranking within an ATAR band. Applicants without a UCAT ANZ result will still be considered for selection but will be ranked at the bottom of their ATAR band.
How do I apply?
Applications for the Bachelor of Medical Science and Bachelor of Physiotherapy programs are made through QTAC, and this includes any current students seeking to change programs.
You will be sent an invitation to apply for the Regional Health Workforce Scheme after you submit your application. You will need to download and complete the QTAC coversheet and upload it to your QTAC application with supporting documentation by the due date outlined on the form.
You are encouraged to apply for the Regional Health Workforce Scheme as soon as practicable. Application deadline will be consistent with the QTAC document due date for the January major round. Refer to the QTAC website for more information.
What documentation do I need to provide?
You must provide evidence to QTAC supporting that you have lived in an approved Local Government Area for either 5 years consecutively (60 full months in a row) OR 10 years cumulatively (120 full months anytime across your lifetime).
Documentation requirements and how to provide them to QTAC will be outlined in the communication sent to you by QTAC.
Acceptable supporting documentation includes:
- Supporting letters from a GP, school, university or workplace (signed originals on letterhead).
Supporting letters must state your rural address. - Invoices for telephone, rates, utilities or bank statements showing your address at the time of issue.
These proof-of-residency documents can be in your parents’ names. - Other documents: Such as PAYG summaries, Notice of assessment, income tax returns, Centrelink statement.
If you are providing documents in your parents/carers name(s) because you reside(d) with them and your last name is different to theirs, you will also need to provide proof of your relationship.
Letters written specifically in support of your claim must be original letters. Other documentation can be photocopies.
Unacceptable supporting documentation includes:
There are documents that are considered as unacceptable evidence to support LGA residence. These include:
- Statutory declarations
- Utility and Rates notices on their own
- Letters without company letterheads
- Birth certificates on their own
- Letters from family, friends or neighbors
- Documents that list only a PO Box address
Frequently asked questions
No, a holiday home is not your primary residence and you would not be eligible to apply.
No, you cannot claim time in the future as part of the five or 10 years.
What if I’m currently a secondary school student boarding in the city/other region but my permanent home address (family home) is in an approved Local Government Area? Can I apply?
Yes, students from an approved Local Government Area who are boarding at a secondary school located in a city (or area outside an approved LGA), you can apply to be considered.
No, you don’t need to have lived at the same address for the entire time, however any addresses you use to apply for the scheme must have been your primary home at the time. If you attended boarding school, you can use your family’s primary home. You can’t use holiday homes, secondary residences or investment properties.