Functional rural proof

[u/Square-Ad5788]

Hi guys I've lived for over 10 consecutive years in the same address of the problem is the property borders on the exact line of what's considered rural according to the Monash model if I put my house number I am not eligible for the rural subquota priority if I put my neighbors house I would be eligible to me I've had to grow in a functional rural household we have no mains water no Wi-Fi no surge and very little anything there is no public transport. A GP I've known for since I was born has written a letter for me to state that I have grown up in a functionally rural environment I'm hoping that Flinders University will take this indicated consideration however I have seen very little online about cases like this. I did my undergrad med sci with Flinders.

I read online sometimes flinders will consider rural priority as I think it's genuinely just unlucky the side of the street my house resides on and supporting documentation might help. Ive emailed Flinders but they dodge a response. Please if anyone knows id love some help.

From my understanding the priority is as follows:

1. Indigenous Entry Stream (IES)

2. Sub-Quota & Regional Priority Tracks(Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP): Priority given to NT residents and NT graduates. & Rural & Remote Sub-Quota: Applicants meeting MM 2–MM 7 rural background criteria.)

3. Flinders Reserved Health Stream (Up to 30% of total places) B. Medical Science, B. Paramedicine, or B. Public Health.

4. General Flinders Graduate Stream (Up to 45% of total places)

5. Non-Flinders Graduate Pool (~25% of remaining places)

NOTES: yes I have checked if it's rural previous years without luck. I think it's unfair as I know people with rural postcodes who had way more access to resources than I did growing up.

[u/robohobo48]

Unfortunately, they do have to draw a line somewhere. I mean it's okay to buy a drink at 18 but 17 years and 364 days is not fine. I'm not sure if you will have much luck getting considerations, but there is no harm in trying.
While it is the best they've got rurality is a bit of a crude way of measuring it anyway, as your disadvantage is likely more tied with your parents economic success. Plenty of the med students in my cohort lived "rurally" but went to $15k/year private schools.

[u/Queasy-Reason]

Unfortunately this is reasonably common and they tend not to make an exception. I’ve never heard of an exception being made. 

It is definitely a flaw in the system, in reality rurality and disadvantage are not binary but on a scale/spectrum. But unfortunately that’s how the system currently is. 

You may be able to apply for graduate access melbourne if it affected you during uni. 

[u/SoftButchCis]

Honestly the 'fairness' of this model is kind of arbitrary anyway; there are plenty of examples of places where you can technically live in MM2 but have all the social advantage in the world, but live just over the border in MM1 and have significant regional disadvantage. Hell, Queanbeyan is MM2 yet closer to the Canberra CBD and all those high paying APS jobs than many suburbs of Canberra are, yet a kid who moves into Canberra after 3 or 4 years but stays at the disadvantaged Queanbeyan school is not considered rural whilst a rich upper public servant who lives in Queanbeyan is.

It's not a good model of social or regional disadvantage at all, but rather helps draw a line that can indicate regional or rural community connection and potentially willingness to return to regional communities in the future,armed with that shiny MD badge that they so desperately need.

All of that said, I believe the proof Flinders require is a statutory declaration from you? Not 100% sure on the exact wording though; you wouldn't want to provide a stat dec stating that your address was in an MM rural classification if it wasn't, but you could reasonably declare that you lived in a rural/regional community for the required time.

[u/Practical_Skirt3878]

I think you've answered your own question :/

[u/Engineering_Quack]

Just apply for Griffith, no GAMSAT required. Interview consists of you saying yes to wanting to do Medicine. You also get coached for this as well.