Welcome to RUSTICA

RUSTICA is the NRHSN Rural Health Club for the University of Tasmania (UTAS).

We have branches across Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, and we are dedicated to promoting rural and remote health careers to students studying Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Allied Health.

We offer networking opportunities, scholarships, clinical skills days and much more.

Mission Statement:

RUSTICA is a student-led organisation committed to promoting rural and remote health careers to health science students at UTAS.

We support our members through scholarships, professional development events, networking opportunities, and advocacy. As a member of the National Rural Health Student Network (NRHSN), we represent our members both locally and nationally, helping to strengthen the future rural health workforce.

Scholarships:

RUSTICA proudly supports students undertaking rural placements through scholarship opportunities.

We understand that rural placements can involve additional costs, and our scholarships aim to reduce financial barriers and encourage students to experience rural and remote healthcare.

Executive Committee

  • Tharani Manoharan – President
  • He Zhu – Vice President
  • Alia Haider – Secretary
  • Thirisha Radhakrishnan – Treasurer

General Committee

  • Anshika Dhiman – Skills Coordinator
  • Sahansa Udawatta – Sponsorship Officer
  • Antonia Brancher – Indigenous Health Representative
  • Emma Moore – Rural High School Visit (RHSV) Representative
  • Roy Cai – IT Representative
  • Davin Lui – Media Representative
  • Tiffiany Lau – Scholarship Representative
  • Jie Ying Leong – Pharmacy Representative
  • Kaleb Milner – Nursing Representative
  • Willem De Wit  – Paramedicine Representative
Join Now

By becoming a member of your Rural Health Club, you are also a member of the National Rural Health Student Network (NRHSN). The NRHSN represents the future of rural health in Australia. It has more than 9,000 members who belong to 29 university Rural Health Clubs from all states and territories. It is Australia’s only multi-disciplinary student health network, bringing together people studying medicine, nursing and allied health, encouraging them to pursue rural health careers. It is important to keep your details up-to-date to ensure your RHC and the NRHSN can keep you informed of everything exciting that’s happening in rural health.

  • King island
    King Island – October/November 2022
    In 2022, Connor was a recipient of a RUSTICA scholarship that supported him through his rural placement. Here is his reflection of the journey.   Over the last four weeks I was fortunate enough to spend some more time on King Island, following a three-week placement for my elective in November 2021. I spent most of…
  • A World 60 Minutes Away
    I grew up knowing both the joys and the trials of living in a rural area. My maternal grandparents live and raised my mother in George Town, Tasmania, while my paternal grandparents raised my father in Bangor, Tasmania. I spent much of my childhood observing the peacefulness and the freedom of living way out yonder…
  • Rural High School Visit to Campbell Town District High School
    The rural high school visit to Campbell Town District High School ran on Monday 19th September and it was a great success.   UTAS health students from Hobart, Launceston and Burnie volunteered and ran health-related stations for year 7-12 students. The high school students were able to learn more about pathways into health careers through…
  • Rustica Rural Networking Cocktail
    This year we brought back our Rural Networking Cocktail holding it in Burnie the location of our Rural Clinical School on Friday August 26th. This event was attended by five health professionals including a two ED physicians, two rural GP’s and a general surgeon, along with 16 medical students enjoying multiple canapes throughout the evening….
  • Rural High School Visit to Deloraine High School
    The first rural high school visit for 2022 occurred at Deloraine High School on Monday 11th April. UTAS students from Launceston, Hobart and Burnie attended and ran stations to 50 high school students years 7/8/9/10. These stations introduced the high school students to skills that they may use in health degrees. The stations included: Plastering…
  • Rural High School Visit to Campbell Town District High School
    The rural high school visit to Campbell Town District High School ran on Monday 19th September and it was a great success. UTAS health students from Hobart, Launceston and Burnie volunteered and ran health-related stations for year 7-12 students. The high school students were able to learn more about pathways into health careers through UTAS and…