January 2026

As we move from the year of the snake to the year of the horse symbolising energy, freedom, and forward momentum according to google AI. CHARMS wishes you a huge welcome to 2026!!

Some fun 2026 facts…

• We're now in the 2nd quarter of the 21st Century, officially saying goodbye to the 1st quarter (2001-2025, and 2026-2050)

• We're now closer to 2030 then we are to 2021 (EEEEK)

• Most people being born now will probably see the 22nd century

In other news we will be welcoming a new cohort of doctors. The graduating class of 2031!! We cannot wait to meet you.

A huge farewell to our 2025 cohort - we know you will all excel in your internship and we cannot wait to see where you all end up.

SO! even though we are all still in holiday mode…. some exciting things for the year ahead will be discussed throughout this issue ⬇️ 

1. Welcome 1st Years

2. Essentials and Non-Essentials to save all our new medical students some $$… welcome to med school where every last dollar counts.

3. Fun elective stories

4. President address

5. Rural Doctors Network Conferences and Events for 2026!

6. Up and coming opportunities, scholarships and all of that good stuff

If you have a story for us and would like to contribute to the next newsletter, please reach out to either of us (Grace Ross) or (Jacques Fletcher-Cauchi) via messenger, or send an email:

[email protected] 

[email protected]

NOTE: if you happen to run into any of the newbies before orientation week… send them the FLUORO link, and inform them that oversharing builds character.

 🎉 Welcome Year 1s 🎉

Welcome class of 2031 we cannot wait to meet you!! Congratulations on getting in you should be very proud of your efforts. Remember this feeling when you are deep into respiratory block… you’ll need any inspiration you can get.

Just a few messages from Harvey our CHARMS president to get you started.

1️⃣ Join the Year 1 Facebook Group Request to join: https://m.me/j/AbaIUSv6Q7PBH9R_/

To be approved, please send a copy/screenshot of your offer acceptance email (via Facebook) to either: Harvey Lew (0498 969 555), or Will Weidmann (Clinical Vice President)

2️⃣ Follow CHARMS on Facebook For Orientation Week details, events, and updates: Charles Sturt Health and Rural Medical Society

Year 1 Orientation Week Timetable is Below! 😉

🩺 Essentials and Non-Essentials For Med School 🩺

For all of your academic resources found on the CSU resource hub click here

For a great starting med guide by the Australian Medical Student Association click here

🌏 Our 4th years soon to be 5th years take on electives 🌏

In fourth year students get the opportunity to take on a 4 week placement anywhere around the world in whatever specialty they choose.

Here are some updates from our students ⬇️ 

❤ CHARMS President Address ❤

G’day beautiful people,

Welcome back and happy new year. I hope you had a restful break, spent with good people, good food, and at least a little time away from thinking about medicine. As January rolls around, we are officially back into the rhythm of the year, and 2026 is already shaping up to be an important one.

I would like to congratulate Professor Lesley Forster on her retirement from the role of Dean of the School of Rural Medicine, and sincere thanks for her leadership, dedication, and the significant contribution she has made to the School and its students. We also congratulate Professor Louis Christie on his appointment as Interim Dean/Head of School and wish him all the best in leading the School during this period until a permanent appointment is made.

This month marks the return to placement for our clinical students. For many, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter. Our third-year students are starting placement in their Rural Clinical Schools across the region. To our senior clinical students, if you see third years arriving at your sites, please take a moment to show them around and help them settle in. Starting placement can be exciting and daunting in equal measure, and a friendly face makes a real difference.

January is also an exciting time for the future of our program. Offers for our new first year Doctor of Medicine cohort will be released through UAC on 8 January. Over the coming weeks, you will likely see new faces joining our Doctor of Medicine Facebook page and finding their feet around Orange. If you do, please make them feel welcome. A quick message or hello can go a long way when you’re starting medicine.

This year also marks a genuinely significant milestone for all of us with the beginning of CSU’s independent medical program. This is an exciting step forward for the School of Rural Medicine and a moment worth celebrating. It reflects years of work by staff, students, and clinical partners, and it strengthens CSU’s ability to shape a medical program that is truly rural, community embedded, and future focused. Being part of this transition is something we should all be proud of.

As we move into the year ahead, take care of yourselves and each other. Start steady, ask for help early, and remember that you are not doing this alone.

Welcome back, and here’s to a strong start to 2026.

H ❤

Rural Doctors Network Conferences and Events for 2026!

Here is the link for RDNs website! Highly recommend signing up to their newsletter: https://www.ruraldoctors.org/site/index.cfm?module=news&pagemode=indiv&page_id=4432295

Events for 2026

1. Breakfast with Gary Webinar - 28 January, online

2. New GP Orientation Workshop - 26-27 March, Port Macquarie

3. Advanced Life Support 1 (ALS 1) - 27 March, Port Macquarie

4. Advanced Life Support 2 (ALS 2) - 26-27 March, Port Macquarie

5. Rural GPs Refresher Conference - 27-29 March, Rydges Port Macquarie

6. GP VMO Conference - 2-3 May, Canowindra

7. Breakfast with Gary Webinar - 14 May, online

8. PESCI Preparation Workshop - 14 May*, Sydney

9. ADHD Masterclass - 28 May, Sydney

10. Obstetrics Procedural Conference - 29-30 May, RDN Office & Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards

11. ALS 1 - 17 June*, Batemans Bay

12. New GP Orientation Workshop - 18-19 June*, Batemans Bay

13. Rural Allied Health Conference - 27 November*, Sydney and online

14. ALS 2 - 25-26 November, Sydney

15. Rural GPs Conference - 26-28 November, Sydney

16. Medical Student Rural Inspiration Conference - 28 November, Sydney

*Date subject to confirmation

Opportunities

• PIF Essay Comp

  • Win $1k and get published in Australasian Psychiatry

  • The topic is 'Seeing the whole person beyond the diagnosis’

  • Submissions due 19th January 2026

  • Apply here

• AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship

  • Applications open now for this whopper scholarship of $11k per annum

  • Closes 31st Jan, more details here

• Tertiary Health Study Subsidies

  • 2026 applications open in late Jan for up to $12k if you’re considering clinical marshmallow roles with NSW Health once you’re finished studying (I didn’t read the eligibility closely don’t @me)

  • You can register to be notified when applications open here

• MedWorld Scholarship

  • This one isn’t open yet but again you can sign up to be notified when apps open here

  • Looks to me to be $10k, with open voting for recipient

• RWAV Conference

  • March 4th-6th in Geelong

  • Tickets for students: $180

  • Details here

• CSU Scholarships

  • Gita Belin Fortitude Foundation Rural Doctors Scholarship $10k due 4th Feb

  • Westfund Healthy Futures Scholarship 10k due 4th Feb

  • And many more specific to you check out the link below

  • Details here

Click the link above to be taken to Orange360, for all things happening in Orange! There are some cool events brewing about 😉 

Until next time beautiful people!

Grace and Jacques x