The Network Gippsland will continue to grow in 2027 after securing an additional year of funding from the Victorian Department of Health, following a successful first year connecting medical students and doctors across the region.
Throughout the year, The Network has delivered educational workshops, online tutorials, clinical skills events and social networking opportunities designed to support those undertaking medical training in Gippsland.
Most recently, more than 160 medical students, interns, hospital doctors and registrars attended social networking dinners held across four locations throughout the region.
The dinners were intentionally informal, allowing participants to meet colleagues, build friendships and develop professional support networks without the structure of presentations or formal education.
President of The Network – For Doctors, By Doctors, Dr Noah Pallot, said supporting connections between doctors was fundamental to strengthening the regional medical workforce.
"We hope that through these connections and experiences, doctors will choose to call Gippsland home after their training," Dr Pallot said.
The Network is supported through the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine's Rural and Remote Community Support Grant and has quickly become a valued part of the region's medical training community.
The initiative is also receiving recognition beyond Gippsland and will be showcased at both the DRIVERS 26 Conference in Bendigo and Rural Medicine Australia 26 (RMA26) in Adelaide.
With another year of funding secured, The Network will continue delivering opportunities for education, mentoring, collaboration and connection while supporting the next generation of rural doctors.