ABSTRACT:This paper describes the nursing involvement in the University of Sydney Rural Careers Project. Funded by the Rural Health Support Education and Training (RHSET) programme, the project was initiated to stimulate the awareness of undergraduate healthcare students to the professional opportunities within the rural setting. During 2 years of operation meetings have been convened for interested students to learn about working and living conditions in a rural community. Speakers from a variety of healthcare settings have provided a wide range of insights into rural working and social conditions. Scholarships are offered to cover travel and accommodation costs for students to attend placements in rural areas and annual excursions to rural communities provide students with experience of rural life and health‐care practice. Although the limitations of such activities are acknowledged, it is believed that students who have several positive experiences of rural professional life may be more likely to try a longer period after graduatio