Around 200 medical students from across Australia will travel to Armidale from 22 to 24 May for the AMSA Rural Health Summit 2026, delivering a national spotlight on the New England region and its role in training the next generation of rural doctors.
Hosted by local University of New England (UNE) and Joint Medical Program (JMP) students, the three-day summit will focus on rural and regional healthcare, workforce pathways and the importance of regional communities in attracting and retaining medical professionals.
Organisers say the event is designed not only to support rural health education, but also to showcase Armidale and the wider New England region as places where future doctors can study, work and build long-term careers.
Regional focus
The summit comes as regional communities across Australia continue to face doctor shortages and increasing pressure on healthcare services.
By bringing students directly into Armidale, organisers hope the event will strengthen connections between future doctors and the New England community, while highlighting the opportunities available in regional practice.
Delegates will take part in workshops, keynote sessions and community experiences across the region, alongside local clinicians and healthcare leaders.
Organisers say exposing students to rural medicine early in their careers is critical to improving long-term workforce outcomes for regional communities.
Summit convenor Adam Nguyen said the event was about creating stronger pathways between medical students and regional communities.
“RHS26 is about more than bringing a conference to Armidale. To me, it is about stewardship: protecting and investing in underserved regional communities, and helping rural-keen medical students imagine a future here,” Nguyen said.
“If we want a stronger rural health workforce, we need to work together — universities, health services, communities, governments, and students.
“Medical students are willing to come, learn, and imagine a life in places like Armidale. What we need now is continued investment in our training pathways, rural end-to-end medical schools like UNE, and the regional towns that future doctors need to feel welcomed, supported, and able to build a life in.”
Academic officer Fleur Steen said the summit would help showcase the strengths of rural communities across New England.
“As a regional-born medical student studying in Armidale, I know how powerful it is for students to see rural communities not only as places of need, but as places of opportunity, leadership, and meaningful clinical work,” Steen said.
“RHS26 is a chance to show medical students from across Australia what Armidale and the New England region have to offer.”
Event details
Event: AMSA Rural Health Summit 2026
Dates: 22–24 May 2026
Location: Armidale, NSW
Host: University of New England and the Armidale community
Attendance: Approximately 200 medical students from across Australia
Theme: From the Ground Up: Building the Future of Rural Health
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