A national peak body representing rural health students has outlined an action plan for the future of rural health in Australia.

Rural health students have called for mental health training to be made a compulsory part of undergraduate health education. The National Rural Health Students' Network (NRHSN) representing more than 9000 nursing, medical and allied health students said high course contact hours and clinical placement requirements placed students at increased risk of reduced mental health. In a priorities paper presented to the Minister for Health in Canberra last week, the peak body said all health students should be required to undertake mental health training to stimulate resilience and coping strategies...