From Simulation to Inspiration: Using Virtual Reality to Explore Rural Health Careers.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a VR rural health experience, co-created using an established process and research protocol, could achieve similar impacts on rural practice intent and reflective engagement in a different geographic and organisational context. SETTING: Metropolitan Sydney and Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one health science students and professionals recruited at careers-related events or while on placement. Most participants (81.1%) were from metropolitan areas, and 39% had no prior rural work exposure. DESIGN: A parallel convergent mixed-methods study. Participants completed pre- and post-viewing surveys assessing intended practice location and presence in the VR environment. A subset (n = 38) participated in semi-structured interviews exploring their experiences. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and using Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests; interviews underwent reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Post-VR, there was a significant shift in intended practice location (p = 0.035, r = 0.233), with increased interest in inner regional and small rural communities. Participants reported high levels of presence and engagement. Three themes and four subthemes were developed, summarised as: (1) VR as immersive and convenient, though limited in interactivity; (2) a rural education and awareness tool that contextualised the rural environment and challenged assumptions; and (3) a career decision-making aid that reduced uncertainty, supported exploration and helped assess person-environment fit. CONCLUSION: A locally tailored VR rural health experience reproduced, and built on the key outcomes of an earlier study in a different context, supporting its adaptability and potential as a scalable tool for rural workforce development through critical reflection and informed career exploration.