Fifth-year medical students from the Adelaide Clinical Rural School (ACRS) received a warm welcome to the Copper Coast last night during a small gathering at Bellagio's Family Restaurant in Kadina.

The four students (Tristan Sprumont, Maddy Taylor, Georgia Webber and Oscar Forster) introduced themselves last night, covering their diverse backgrounds, why they chose to study medicine, and what they hope their experience on the Copper Coast will afford them.

The latest crop of fifth-year medical students calling the Copper Coast 'home' for one year are part of a highly successful program offered by the Adelaide Rural Clinical School (ARCS) under the auspices of The University of Adelaide.  During their one-year placement, which will be led by experienced local GPs, registrars and nurses, the students will be given the opportunity to conduct supervised consulting sessions and participate in parallel consulting, hospital rounds, and nursing home visits.

Copper Coast Council Mayor Rosyln Talbot extended a warm welcome to the students last night,  encouraging them to experience all that the Copper Coast has to see and offer. Mayor Talbot also recommended the students join any of the various sporting and social clubs in the area, helping to immerse themselves in the community and make connections.

Organiser of the event and ARCS Student Support Coordinator for the Yorke Peninisula, Liz Berger, has been in her role for seven years, primarily coordinating the students' placements at Copper Coast General Practices and rostering them at Accident and Emergency at Wallaroo Hospital.

She describes the fifth year of medical studies as " the crucial year" as its the final year of undergraduate studies and examinations.

Liz also plays a pastoral care role of sorts and is known to students as "The Kadina Mum" as they are so far from home and see the Student Support Coordinator often. She encourages the students to get as involved as possible with the local community, recalling how a group of students took part in the furry dance last year as part of the biannual Kernewek Lowender festival.

"Ultimately, we're trying to encourage the students to pursue a career in rural medicine," the Student Support Coordinator said,  "as rural generalists or specialists".

Also present at last night's event was Dr Hannah Wellington, a GP at Kadina Medical Associates and the Clinical Academic of the program, and ACRS Researcher Dr David Gonzalez.