Despite a lack of public ear, nose and throat specialists in Bendigo, there are currently no places in regional Australia where doctors who want to specialise as ENT surgeons can train.
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The national Specialist Training Program provides vocational training for doctors who want to work outside metropolitan areas, primarily in regional and rural locations.
Doctors wanting to specialise in general surgery, urology, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and paediatric surgery can apply for posts in regional Australia throught the program.
But otolaryngology-head and neck surgery - which covers ENT - is one of the speciality areas which does not have a regional posting.
Monash Rural Health North-West Regional Training Hub manager, Sophie Burke, said establishing regional specialist training positions for junior doctors was a "very complex process".
"Monash University has been working with our partners in the Loddon Mallee region to determine areas of workforce need," Ms Bourke said. "We acknowledge there are no ENT surgeons living in Bendigo."
"We also acknowledge the general surgical training occurring at Bendigo Health and the current opportunity to develop additional accredited places in Mildura."
Ms Burke said there was "no lack of interest" in regional medical careers from students and junior doctors.
"Last week we organised a medical careers information evening in partnership with Bendigo Health," Ms Burke said. "It attracted over 100 participants including some who had travelled from Melbourne.
"We look forward to working with our health services and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons to broaden rural surgical training in the Loddon Mallee.
"We encourage local students to aspire to and undertake these careers."
La Trobe University Bendigo has also been supporting regional medical students to go onto further study, although there has not been a focus on ENT specialisation.
Fifteen students who are studying the university's Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medical) course in Bendigo and Albury-Wodonga have been guaranteed post-graduate places at the University of Melbourne campus in Shepparton.
Incoming chair of the Rural Surgery Section Committee for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Dr Bridget Clancy, welcomed the prioritisation of rural and regional centres.
"Our data shows us is that if doctors have at least one year of practical training in rural areas, they are more likely to stay there," Dr Clancy said.
"The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons supports the move towards regional training hubs so that the trainee surgeons get more exposure to the regions."
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Tara Cosoleto
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
