CQUniversity welcomes largest undergrad med cohort
CQUniversity Australia has welcomed 50 new students (the largest cohort of students to date) to its Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course.
The course is part of the Australian-first Regional Medical Pathway (RMP) – a medical education and training pathway pioneered by CQUniversity, The University of Queensland (UQ), and the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (CQHHS and WBHHS) – to allow students to complete the entirety of their medical training in the regions.
It sees students complete a three-year Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course with CQUniversity, before moving into UQ’s four-year MD program, with both education programs delivered locally in Bundaberg and Rockhampton.
As part of the partnership, the Hospital and Health Services provide students with internship opportunities and postgraduate training places within their regional footprints.
Since commencing in 2022, the program has grown in popularity.
More than 900 prospective students from across Australia applied for the 2024 intake, with 25 new students being accepted into each region.
As well as being the largest cohort to date, the 2024 intake also consists of the largest contingent of students local to the Wide Bay and Central Queensland regions, with almost a third of the entire cohort already calling Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Rockhampton and Gladstone home.
Partnership and collaboration to build future health workforces
Professor Andy Stewart, Dean of CQUniversity’s School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences said the school was delighted to welcome such a large cohort of students to the Regional Medical Pathway in 2024.
“The Pathway has gone from strength to strength since it was first established, and it is pleasing to see such strong interest from right across Australia, especially among aspiring doctors who want to remain in their local regions.
“As these students progress through their studies and become doctors, it will make a huge difference to health delivery in our region,” Prof Stewart said.
Professor Alan Sandford AM, Director of Medical Academic Development, CQHHS and WBHHS added that the aim of the Regional Medical Pathway is to deliver a sustained improvement in community health outcomes by delivering more locally trained doctors to the regions.
“The Regional Medical Pathway demonstrates the profound impact of workforce nurturing in optimising the workplace experience of medical professionals in our local Hospital Health Services.
“The calibre of the students entering the Pathway is exceptional, and communities in Central Queensland and the Wide Bay can be confident that future health workforces will be better equipped to deal with community growth and changing healthcare needs.
“It is a shining example of how universities and healthcare providers can work together to build and secure future workforces and it is a model that is now being applied in other regions,” Professor Sandford said.
An opportunity to follow career dreams without leaving loved ones
Georgia Herbener, a former student at Bundaberg State High School, has just commenced her medical studies through the RMP in Bundaberg.
She said that it was a dream come true to study medicine in her hometown.
“I am the first person in my family to attend university, and the Regional Medical Pathway allows me to study for my dream career while staying in my hometown and benefiting from the support of my family and friends," she said.
“I grew up on a farm and I have already noticed the disparity when it comes to the availability of medical professionals in the regions compared to the city. I hope to one day be able to play my part in overcoming this by becoming a doctor.
“The RMP aligns perfectly with my professional aspirations for the future and the course will give me so much exposure to rural and regional healthcare settings. I was also attracted to the prospect of small class sizes and more student-focused learning, at CQU, I am not just a number but a valued student fostering a genuine relationship with teaching staff,” Ms Herbener said.
I grew up on a farm in a regional location and I have already noticed the disparity when it comes to the availability of medical professionals in the regions compared to the city. I hope to one day be able to play my part in overcoming this by becoming a doctor. - Georgia Herbener, first year RMP student, Bundaberg
Commitment to giving back to the community that feels like home
Niharika Peteti, who completed her schooling in Biloela and has now relocated to Rockhampton to study in the RMP, said the pathway would allow her to follow her dreams of becoming a regional medical practitioner.
“Prior to living in Biloela, I went to school in Melbourne. Moving to a small country town was a drastic change, but I quickly found home in this community and way of life.
“I have been interested in the human body and medicine from a young age and was influenced to study through the RMP by realising the impact I could make as a health practitioner in a small community.
“I have been influenced by both my mother who is a nurse in Biloela and by Dr Bruce Charter who I met through the “Taste of Medicine” program in Year 10. Their values as health practitioners have always inspired me and it made me realise that I also wanted to give back in a similar manner.
“I am truly very grateful to have been accepted into the RMP and although I have not decided on any specialisations yet, I do know that I want to remain in rural areas as a practising doctor after completing my degree,” Ms Peteti said.
I have been interested in the human body and medicine from a young age and was influenced to study through the RMP by realising the impact I could make as a health practitioner in a small community. - Niharika Peteti, first year RMP student, Rockhampton
A pathway to supporting the regions
The Regional Medical Pathway is now in its third year with the first intake of students commencing in 2022.
This foundation cohort is set to complete CQUniversity studies at the end of 2024, and will enter the full UQ MD program in 2025.
The Regional Medical Pathway model originally developed for the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Regions is now also being applied to the Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland Regions, helping to ensure that regional Queensland has a strong emerging medical workforce.
For more information on the program please visit the Regional Medical Pathway website.
More information about the CQUniversity Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course is available on the course page on the CQUniversity website.
