The students will be the first to undertake a full six-year medicine degree in regional Australia through a major metropolitan university.

UNSW Medicine Port Macquarie head of campus Associate Professor Sandy McColl said: “Everything is in place – the curriculum, the schedule and the staff.”

He said they would have a first year cohort of 13 to 14 students.

“The entire team has pulled together to create a terrific learning environment for our first year students,” Associate Professor McColl said.

Julianne Weatherley has stepped up as the campus manager. 

Ms Weatherley will be overseeing the day-to-day operations of the full medical program in Port Macquarie.

Her role includes managing all rural clinical school buildings including the Port Macquarie Shared Health Research and Education Centre (SHREC) building in conjunction with Tony Jordan, who is the executive assistant to the Associate Dean Rural Health and Head - Rural Clinical School - Dr Lesley Forster.

The award winning facility brings together education partners and new health programs to the Hastings region.

Sue Carroll has worked tirelessly to develop the schedules, curriculum details and information handbooks for the incoming student group. 

Additionally, Ms Carroll has organised Orientation Week with the help of the student-run Port Medical Society.

Orientation Week will give the students insights about the campus and the town.

Social activities include fish and chips on The Town Green and a Hastings River cruise.

New staff recruits, PhD scientists Dr Linda Ferrington and Dr Matthew Clemson, will deliver the academic core of phase one.

The first year students start Orientation Week on February 22.

Their classes begin on February 27.

They are part of a 62-strong medical student cohort.

The first year teaching will occur at Port Macquarie Shared Health Research and Education Campus building.

The full medical degree here builds on UNSW’s proud history of teaching medical students in Port Macquarie.

Associate Professor McColl says tertiary education is becoming an important part of the Port Macquarie scene.

“We have multiple universities with first-rate educational offerings,” he said.

Associate Professor McColl said the educational and aspirational landscape had changed dramatically for high school students.

“Port may soon become a 'university town'.   

“The  benefits to the community from this association are huge - economically and educationally,” he said.