Parkes Shire Council is eagerly awaiting an evaluation from the NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) to determine future participation in the Bush Bursary Scheme.

While council has agreed to again participate in the 2012 scheme by contributing $3,300 they want to know if it really is money well spent in encouraging doctors to rural areas.

Parkes Shire Council is one of only 17 councils that participate in the scheme.

There are 152 local government councils throughout NSW.

At this week’s Council meeting, Mr Les Finn (Director Technology and Corporate Services) said the question of the scheme’s success had always been asked of council.

“Bush Bursary Scholarships are offered on an annual basis to select medical students, and financially supported by the Rural Shires of NSW, Country Women’s Association and the NSW Rural Doctors Network,” Mr Finn said.

In return for receiving $3,000 from the sponsoring organisation students are required to spend two weeks of rural placement in country NSW during their university holidays or over the Christmas break.

“Previously, council has sought evaluation of the success of the program and I can finally advise council that this will be forthcoming at the end of the year,” Mr Finn said.

Council’s placement for 2011 was Jana Gerlach.

According to Cr Louise O’Leary who spoke to Ms Gerlach during her visit to Peak Hill Health Service, the student doctor said she hailed from Adelaide and wants to go practice in the bush, however, her concept of the bush included much larger regional centres, even Canberra.

“Can we choose our placements with the criteria they must be prepared to come to the bush to practice,” Cr O’Leary enquired.

Mayor Ken Keith said council needed to find out through the evaluation process those students who have gone to the bush following their studies.

“Hopefully this feedback can be forthcoming when the evaluation from the RDN arrives at the end of the year,” Cr Keith said.

“We are one of the few councils that have supported the scheme every year since its inception. Other council’s have done so but dropped off over time.

“$3,000 might be better spent attracting doctors to Parkes,” he said.