Physio hits the mark in Cairns
CQUniversity’s Cairns campus will soon welcome its first cohort of physiotherapy students, with enrolments already at capacity.
Formal accreditation has been granted by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, staff have been recruited and students are eager to get started when Term 1 officially kicks off on Monday 4 March.
Following the announcement last year that CQUniversity would deliver the four-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) course in Cairns, 30 students are now ready to start the degree in the region.
“Numbers for Cairns have exceeded our quota which is fantastic news and we have also accepted some students through the Allied Health pathway,” said Head of Physiotherapy and Senior Lecturer in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Dr Sean Ledger.
“Additionally, we have appointed Michael Wilkinson, who is a highly experienced clinical physiotherapist, and he started his role as Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy in January," he said.
“Michael will link in with our Rockhampton and Bundaberg campuses for lectures and will lead the teaching on the Cairns campus for the Foundations of Physiotherapy and Medical Anatomy and Physiology units.”
Edmonton local and commencing student Brody Zanetich, 18, said he was excited to learn that CQUniversity was offering the course in Cairns this year.
"I chose CQU because my other option was JCU in Townsville so I was very content when I heard that it would be offered in Cairns, meaning I wouldn't have to move away,” Brody explained.
“Both my cousins had to leave town to study physio and the cost to move away and live on campus is very expensive so I’m really happy not to have to do that,” he said.
“Staying in the region will also mean that I can keep the job that I work at casually.”
Associate Vice-President of the Cairns and Far North Regions, Jodie Duignan-George said the new students would benefit from a purpose-built lab at the Cairns Square campus.
“We have a fantastic new clinical practical lab that is kitted out with identical equipment and technology to the other two campuses where physiotherapy is delivered. It is also fully-equipped for anatomy sessions, with human-specimen plastinates,” Ms Duignan-George said.
“Our drive to deliver a high-quality course in Cairns has been matched by demand and interest from students in the local area – feedback from prospective students and parents has been fantastic and it is evident that we will be contributing to fulfilling an urgent workforce need for physiotherapy in northern Queensland.”
Ms Duignan-George said that physiotherapy had been on scope for the new campus, when it was built.
In 2022 CQUniversity secured a $50 million commitment from the Federal Government to meet growing demand, and build a new campus in the heart of Cairns.
“However, the extent of the current physio shortages in the region made us realise we had to act now,” she said.
“That meant retrofitting one of our existing labs to enable us to bring the course to Cairns, and after nearly a year of construction, we have made it!
“For it be as successful as it has become, in terms of student enrolments, is gratifying. I’m now looking into what course is next in this allied health space.”
Dr Ledger said planning for recruitment of cardiorespiratory and neurological lecturers would commence midway through 2024 to ensure the team is prepared for the second year of teaching.
Learn more about Physiotherapy at CQUniversity via the course page.
