Dubbo's University of Sydney School of Rural Health medical school taking shape

Construction of the medical school being developed at the University of Sydney's School of Rural Health in Dubbo is expected to be completed in October.

The first Dubbo cohort of 24 students is expected to start in early February next year.

The university received $9.27 million from the Australian government for the medical school, including $7.65 million in capital funding to redevelop the existing School of Rural Health and build an extension medical school.

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The university's Sydney Medical School will offer its Doctor of Medicine program from Dubbo as part of the government's $95 million Murray Darling Medical Schools Network.

It will include a state-of-the-art anatomy space including two- and three- dimensional visual technologies, virtual and augmented reality and 3D printing, learning studios, simulation space, service rooms and amenities.

Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton visited the site on Monday and said the program would allow the university to deliver the entire postgraduate degree from the facility in Dubbo, and encourage health professionals to retain careers out west.

"More students from rural areas will be able to do medicine and all students will develop rural ties which will encourage them to stay in the country, after graduating," Mr Coulton said.

"With Dubbo being the base rather than Sydney it's going to be much more supportive for people wanting to work further out west, because rather than be connected back to a big city hospital, they'll be connected with people who know what's going on out here."

Mr Coulton said this project, along with other innovative models of care designed and initiated in western NSW, would help build a stronger rural health workforce and improve access to doctors and health outcomes for rural people.

The project is being managed by Patterson Building Group.