Record demand leads to biggest first year medical student cohort
Central Queensland welcomed its biggest ever cohort of first-year medical students this year as Australia’s first Regional Medical Pathway (RMP) program collaborators and community gathered to celebrate the occasion in Rockhampton.
The RMP, a groundbreaking initiative designed to address healthcare needs in regional Queensland, continues to exceed expectations this year, with a record 1200 applications and 50 new students enrolled.
The program, a collaboration between CQUniversity, The University of Queensland (UQ), and Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (CQHHS and WBHHS), offers students the opportunity to complete their entire medical training in regional locations.
Since its establishment in 2021, the RMP has grown rapidly, with the first cohort of students graduating from CQUniversity’s Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) course in 2024.
All of these students have now progressed into UQ's four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, with plans to complete their studies and contribute to the healthcare workforce across Central Queensland and the Wide Bay regions.
This year, the program is welcoming the largest cohort of students ever, with 26 in Bundaberg and 24 in Rockhampton.
Notably, 15 of these students are from the very regions the pathway aims to support, highlighting the local appeal of the program.
First year Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) student Ava Prasad has a huge drive to see better equality in healthcare in the regions.
“It has been a deep-seated desire of mine to be able to be involved in the medical field and to reduce the health gap that exists between non-Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Australians,” explained the Heights College graduate from Rockhampton.
“I believe that by providing culturally sensitive care, improving access to healthcare, and advocating for policies that support Indigenous health, I can contribute to a more equitable healthcare system where everyone, regardless of their background, can have the opportunity to achieve optimal health outcomes.
“Being accepted at CQU was an incredibly exciting moment and this has now given me the opportunity to study locally in my desired course, whilst having the support of my family and friends nearby, making it even more special.”
Also a graduate of Heights College in Rockhampton, Shova Yadav said she was excited to pursue her medical studies on home soil.
“Being a Rockhampton local I know the reality of living in the regions; the tight-knit community and peaceful scenery,” she explained.
“I am connected to the Rockhampton community and I am beyond excited and grateful to have the opportunity to do my dream course in my hometown directly linked to helping rural healthcare.”
The two first year medical students – Ava and Shova – have been friends since year seven at school and are very excited to have the opportunity to study the next 7 years together to become doctors in Central Queensland.
In total, around a third of the students enrolled in the pathway are from Central Queensland and Wide Bay, with a strong interest also coming from metropolitan and interstate applicants eager to pursue rural and remote medical practice.
“We are thrilled with the growth of the Regional Medical Pathway and the increasing demand from students locally,” CQUniversity’s Dean of the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences Professor Andy Stewart said.
“This pathway not only provides students with the opportunity to receive a world-class education, but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of healthcare services in our regional communities.
“There’s overwhelming evidence that says that if we train doctors regionally, they are more likely to stay and work in the regions, addressing the shortage of medical professionals in rural and remote areas.
“That’s the real drawcard of this program. Students can study the entire seven years in either Rockhampton or Bundaberg with CQUniversity and the University of Queensland, and then can be supported by the hospital services through internships and postgraduate training.”
Professor Stewart said the RMP had an important role to play in building the future medical workforce in regional Queensland.
“Even if only 75 per cent of these students choose to stay in the regions, around 100 additional doctors will be added to the healthcare workforce in Central Queensland and Wide Bay, making a significant contribution to the regions’ ongoing medical needs.”
For further information about the Regional Medical Pathway, please visit cqu.edu.au/study/medicine-pathways.
