FNQ Health and Innovation Precinct
The Far North Queensland region encompasses some of the most remote communities in the state. Cairns Hospital is the only major referral hospital in FNQ, providing care to patients from Cape York, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Torres Strait. With a population experiencing increasingly complex, chronic conditions above national averages, expanded health services, clinical research, and education are critical to meet the ongoing health needs of FNQ’s growing population while also supporting the current and expanding visitor population of close to three million people per year.
Our region’s Hospital and Health Services (Cairns and Hinterland, Torres and Cape, North West), supported by the Northern Queensland Primary Healthcare Network, James Cook University (JCU), CQUniversity, TAFE Queensland and other tertiary institutions, work together to ensure that Cairns grows its own medical, nursing and allied health workforce to expand clinical services and translate research into practice to improve health outcomes for FNQ communities.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service in partnership with JCU have made a significant investment in developing the Far North Queensland Health and Innovation Precinct (FNQHIP). The Precinct, centrally located in Cairns, will be the epicentre of health, education and training facilities enabling clinical and translational research, health service innovation and application of best evidence in health care, supporting Cairns Hospital’s transition to tertiary hospital status within the next five years.
Cairns Health and Innovation Centre
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) face escalating demands due to a growing population, surpassing the rate of healthcare service growth.
The pressing need to cater to this swelling population underscores the necessity for expanded health services, clinical research, and education in Far North Queensland (FNQ).
The Cairns Health and Innovation Centre (CHIC) provides a platform for the Far North to substantially boost the health capability of the region which directly will result in significant improvements in the health outcomes of FNQ residents as well as visitor population. The investment into the Innovation Centre underpins a significant opportunity to bring in international universities, researchers and a workforce that would benefit the region and indeed the nation.
Funding
This project has an innitial funding commitment of $60 million by the Queensland Government.
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Queensland Government $60 million |
| Queensland Government $60 million |
Cairns Hospital Acute Services Building
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) is facing mounting pressure to support a rapidly growing and ageing population, leading to an ever-increasing demand for healthcare services. The 2022-2023 CHHHS annual report reveals that Cairns Hospital is already operating at full capacity, serving an estimated population of 289,000, including residents from the expansive Cape and Torres region. The hospital's Emergency Department alone saw a 5.1% increase in presentations last year, with over 90,000 cases.
As the region's population is projected to grow by 67,000 people by 2032, the urgency to develop a new Acute Services Building (ASB) has become critical. This new facility is essential to address the current capacity shortfall, enhance resilience against environmental risks, and support the hospital's transition to a full tertiary level institution by 2030.