Rural origin student representation in health courses at the University of Tasmania: 2011-2020

To describe longitudinal trends in the admission and completion of domestic Tasmanian rural origin students in health courses at the University of Tasmania (UTAS).

A retrospective audit of records for all domestic Tasmanian students admitted to, or who completed a health course offered by UTAS between 2011 and 2020 was conducted. Data extracted from student records included gender, age, Indigenous background, rural origin (based on residential address outside of Launceston or Hobart at the time of application), health discipline, year of admission and/or completion. Data were analysed in STATA.

Between 2011 and 2020, 7516 domestic Tasmanian students were admitted to health courses at UTAS, of which 22.6% were rural origin (vs. a rural population of 36.7%). Students admitted were mostly female (77.0%) and studying nursing (51.1%). Rural origin students were more likely to study at the regional campus in Launceston than in Hobart, the capital city (OR, 3.79 [3.4-4.3, p < 0.00]). Over this same period, 5086 students completed a health course. There was little difference in completion rates among regional vs. rural origin students (OR, 1.04 [1.0-1.1, p < 0.00]); however, completion rates decreased with increasing remoteness. Indigenous and male students were less likely to complete than non-Indigenous (OR, 0.73 [0.7-0.8, p < 0.05]) and female students (OR, 0.97 [1.0-1.0, p < 0.05]) respectively.

Tasmanian rural origin students are admitted to a range of health courses at UTAS and many complete. However, additional measures are needed to attract a greater number of local rural origin students to study health courses and to support them through to course completion.