Table 2 Factors most likely to encourage students to work rurally
From: Where do students in the health professions want to work?
| Â | Â | Top influencing factor | % saying "encourage" | % saying "strongly encourage" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | <21 | Career opportunities | 33% | 33% |
|  | 21–24 | Type of work | 18% | 53% |
|  | 25–29 | Cost of accommodation Type of work | 21% 21% | 65% 65% |
| Â | 30+ | Environment for raising children | 0% | 60% |
Sex | Males | Cost of living | 38% | 48% |
| Â | Females | Type of work | 28% | 41% |
Children | Yes | Environment for raising children | 0% | 83% |
| Â | No | Type of work | 25% | 48% |
Discipline | Medicine | Cost of accommodation Challenge | 28% 39% | 44% 39% |
| Â | Nursing | Type of work | 6% | 56% |
| Â | Allied health | Career opportunities | 56% | 38% |
Regional background | Population >100 000 | Type of work Cost of accommodation Cost of living | 33% 19% 29% | 43% 48% 43% |
|  | 25 000–100 000 | Challenge | 42% | 42% |
|  | 10 000–24 999 | Type of work | 0% | 83% |
| Â | <10 000 | Rural lifestyle/culture | 30% | 40% |
Ethnicity | Australian/NZ | Type of work | 15% | 57% |
| Â | Asian | Challenge | 33% | 50% |
| Â | European | Cost of accommodation | 0% | 75% |