Students arrive at uni

Two students returning to Shepparton are Grady Dickason and Camilla Taylor. Both are continuing their studies in Shepparton, studying a doctorate in medicine.

Part of their studies will have them working at the redeveloped hospital.

“I feel pretty good to be back in Shepparton,” Mr Dickason said.

“The rent is pretty crazy (in the city) so it's good to come back where the rent is a bit cheaper.

“Some of my family is still in Shepparton but the difficult part is the friends that have left."

The former Notre Dame alumni completed an under-graduates degree in biomedical science degree at La Trobe University.

Miss Taylor said her parents were still in Shepparton and there had been big changes to the area in the past five years.

Miss Taylor completed an under-graduate degree in biomedicine at the University of Melbourne and also an honours year in microbiology at the Peter Doherty Institute.

Also returning to the rural sector, to study in Ballarat, is Umair Abdullah — son of City of Greater Shepparon Mayor Seema Addullah.

Department of Rural Health head Julian Wright said about 70 clinical students were based across the state.

``The reason why we have a clinical school across Victoria is workforce initiative,” Professor Wright said.

``We know if we train people outside of Melbourne they've got more of a chance to work outside of Melbourne.

``But the ultimate combination is people who come from a rural background who then study in a rural area. They're the ones who've definitely got the most chance of staying,” Prof Wright said.

“We all want our local kids to have every opportunity to study what they want.”