The University of Notre Dame Australia congratulates fourth-year medical student Emma McNeilly on winning The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia (RCSWA)’s Campbell and Annie Murdoch Prize in Rural and Remote Medicine.
The prize, named after key founding figures of the school’s placement program, is awarded to the student with the highest aggregate mark for In-Training Assessment during their year at the clinical school.
Completing her placement year in Geraldton in 2024, Emma said the experience was both valuable and rewarding.
“The program has provided me hands-on clinical experience in a remote setting as well as the chance to make an important contribution to my placement community,” she said.
“I would highly recommend it to anyone considering applying.”
Academic Coordinator Penultimate and Final Year Programs at the RCSWA, Associate Professor Kirsty Freeman, said the award is a well-deserved recognition of Emma’s dedication, academic excellence and commitment to rural medicine.
“We wish Emma continued success in her studies and career in the medical profession,” she said.
Run annually, the RCSWA’s unique placement program allows students to focus on a range of theoretical and hands-on learning experiences across several disciplines including general practice, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology and psychiatry.
The school has forged a deep connection with rural and remote communities, especially as its
140-strong team of medical coordinators, researchers and administrators are locals
themselves. Developing strong ties with the team, students are also embraced by the communities in which they live and work.
In 2025, a total of 111 penultimate students and 22 final-year students are studying with
RCSWA. Within the cohort, there are seven penultimate First Nations students and one final year First Nations student.
About the RCSWA
Established in 2002, RCSWA was the first collaborative rural clinical school in Australia
between two universities (UWA and Notre Dame in 2007) and three universities when
Curtin joined the partnership in 2019.
The RCSWA aims to help deliver better health outcomes for people living in country WA by placing penultimate and final year medical students across a network of 15 sites to support sustaining a locally trained and loyal medical workforce.
Media Contact: media@nd.edu.au