About the WA Centre for Rural Health
The WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) at The University of Western Australia is one of 19 Commonwealth-funded University Departments of Rural Health (UDRH) in Australia. We are located in the Midwest, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia.
WACRH aims to improve rural, remote and Aboriginal health through education, student placement support, research and community service activities, as well as to facilitate quality allied health, nursing and pharmacy clinical placements for students from all Australian universities. We work to improve the recruitment and retention of allied health, pharmacy and nursing (health) professionals in rural and remote Australia.
Our Locations
WACRH operates across two large rural regions, in the Midwest and the Pilbara of Western Australia, as well as having a city-based office at The University of Western Australia in Perth. The main office is based in Geraldton in the Midwest of Western Australia. The Pilbara office is based in the City of Karratha.
The Geraldton office provides professional and student support and research to the Midwest and Gascoyne community, with opportunities for student placements, community development projects, and research activities in Carnarvon, Mt Magnet, Yalgoo, and Mullewa.
The Karratha office provides professional and student support and research to the Pilbara community, with opportunities for student placements, community development projects, and research activities in Roebourne, Port Hedland, and Newman.
WACRH has an office in the School of Allied Health (SAH) at The University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth. This provides a base for a small number of research staff and enables WACRH staff to keep connection with the SAH, UWA, professional colleagues and stakeholder organisations.
Our People
Professor Sandra Thompson
Professor Sandra Thompson is Director of the WA Centre for Rural Health, Chair of Rural Health at UWA, and a professor of rural, remote and regional health. Challenging current healthcare delivery methods and improving the healthcare experiences of rural communities is a key focus of her research.
Dr Ivan Lin
Dr Ivan Lin is a physiotherapist clinician/researcher and Associate Professor. His work focuses on reducing the burden of musculoskeletal pain, improving the effectiveness of clinical communication, and improving outcomes in Aboriginal, remote and rural health care.
Associate Professor Rohan Rasiah
Rohan Rasiah is an Associate Professor at the WA Centre for Rural Health in the Pilbara. He is a community pharmacist whose research interests include rural and remote health workforce development, provision of health and social care services to remote communities, and Aboriginal Health.
Chantal Bachere-Crinquand
Chantal is the WA Centre for Rural Health Mental Health Academic and Senior Lecturer. Her focus lays in developing and facilitating mental health educational programs. Chantal is committed to advocating to improve mental health outcomes in regional WA in her leadership and educational roles.
Aasta Abbott
Aasta Abbott is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and Senior Lecturer at the WA Centre for Rural Health. Aasta is passionate about enabling high quality health care for individuals and families with developmental delays and disabilities in regional and remote WA.
Contact Our Academic Staff
See all our staffStudent Education
The WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) supports a range of Allied Health, Nursing and Pharmacy rural clinical placements in the Midwest and Pilbara of Western Australia.
Student Placements
The WA Centre for Rural Health supports a range of allied health, nursing and pharmacy rural placements in the Midwest and Pilbara regions of Western Australia.
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Student Accommodation
WACRH provides accommodation options for students to rent at low cost in the Midwest and Pilbara regions of Western Australia.
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Continuing Professional Development
The WA Centre for Rural Health is committed to contributing to the ongoing professional development of rural and remote health professionals.
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Cultural Awareness Training
Our Aboriginal staff deliver in-place cultural orientation and Aboriginal health care training to students and new staff.
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Student Health Academy
The Student Health Academy program is offered to Year 10 students in the Midwest of Western Australia.
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Student Testimonials
Students in different health professions from universities across Australia experience life-changing rural placements with us in the Midwest and the Pilbara of Western Australia.
I have enjoyed putting our research learnings from university into a practical and real project that is going to be used to support children's learning in the Pilbara.
Growing up regionally and being able to undertake my dissertation in my home town was a great experience. I’m so appreciative of the support I received from both my supervisors and the wider team at WACRH for believing in me and helping to make it possible.
I thought a university education was a tough goal but with hard work, great support from family, Geraldton University Centre and the WA Centre for Rural Health I have been able to achieve my goal.
This placement has been the best placement experience I have had. It opened my mind to a lot of things, including possibly working in rural areas and working with paediatrics.
I have loved my time in Geraldton. I appreciate the support from WACRH and attention to detail in our placement experiences. I have learnt a lot and have felt welcomed by the staff.