Regional & Rural General Practitioners
FNQ Health and Innovation Precinct
The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service’s operations extend across Far North Queensland to some of the most remote communities in the state, with a population increasingly experiencing complex, chronic conditions at a level above national average. Cairns Hospital is the only major referral hospital in FNQ, also providing care to patients from across Cape York and the Torres Strait. Expanded health services, clinical research and education are critical to meet the health needs of FNQ’s growing population. Significantly, the region also supports a growing current visitor population of close to three million a year. Our region’s Hospital and Health Services, supported by the Northern Queensland Primary Healthcare Network, James Cook University (JCU), CQUniversity, TAFE Queensland and other tertiary institutions, are working to ensure that Cairns grows its own medical, nursing and allied health workforce, to expand its clinical services and translate research into practice to improve health outcomes for FNQ communities. Embedding research and expanding education will enable CHHHS to provide best-practice healthcare and support Cairns Hospital’s transition to tertiary hospital status within the next six years. This will allow both the hospital and JCU to attract and retain researchers and specialists, deepening health service delivery. With more than 2,000 health related student placements in 2023 alone, JCU is a major strategic partner with a growing investment into the Cairns region, such as the recent opening of a medical school allowing students to complete their full six-year training locally, and the construction of JCU’s Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre which will provide facilities for clinical teaching, training and research.
Cairns' two universities are essential to building regional capacity and fostering the knowledge economy, particularly in addressing education and workforce gaps. James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns plays a pivotal role in healthcare training, now offering end-to-end medical education with 20 newly awarded Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). However, with growing demand for medical professionals in Far North Queensland, additional CSPs are critical. JCU is uniquely positioned to address the region's primary care shortages through its integrated medical training programs. The Australian Government is urged to allocate further CSPs and invest in JCU's Rural Health Medical Training to strengthen the regional healthcare workforce and improve local health outcomes.
Benefits to the region
• Begin to address the unmet need for General Practitioners and Rural Generalists.
• Deliver high-quality local health care for regional Queensland.
• Improve equal access to education.
• Begin to address skills deficits across the nation.
Recommendation
The Australian Government:
1. To support the training and recruitment of Cairns-based clinicians, James Cook University receives 60 CSPs for its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) to begin in 2025, as well as an additional 50 places in 2026 to be announced in the 2024-25 Federal Budget.
2. To support the primary health care workforce and improve the supply and distribution of GPs within the Far North Queensland region, a further $5m per annum ongoing investment is sought to secure the Rural Health Medical Training delivered by JCU, to be announced in the 2024-25 Federal Budget.
Overview
Cairns’ two universities continue to play vital roles in capacity building and the knowledge economy in the region. Through collaborative partnerships and to address current gaps in education pathways, the universities are working to build capacity across a range of industries and community initiatives.
In the October 2022-23 Federal Budget, JCU Medicine in Cairns was awarded 20 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), meaning end-to-end medical training delivered in Cairns for the first time, thus building on almost 40 years of commitment by the University to Cairns. However, with no additional CSPs allocated from the recent nationally competitive grant round, the significant and growing unmet demand for medical labour in Far North Queensland is further exacerbated. It is critical that the Australian Government considers both JCU and the Queensland Government’s submissions for additional CSPs. Whilst JCU requested 40 places from the recent grant round for places to be offered in 2024, the University has the capacity to support 110 additional places delivered over two years if these were to be provided.
Further, JCU is also unique among Australian universities in delivering Fellowship training in General Practice for medical graduates since 2016, accredited by and working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Federal Government. JCU’s GP training is delivered alongside and integrated locally with JCU’s professional programs in medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health, pharmacy, and dentistry. By investing in the JCU Model of integrated local community-based primary care training across regional Queensland, the government will expand the number of doctors and other professionals pursuing primary care careers in some of the most underserved communities in the country, and specifically, meeting Far North Queensland’s primary care health workforce shortages.
In the five years to 2028, projected employment in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry is forecast to increase by around 257,000[i]. This trend is expected continue in the coming decades with a workforce twice the size of 2020-21 required to meet demand in 2049-50[ii].
Ensuring demand is met will require a multifaceted approach and how our nation’s education and training sector responds to these skills needs is crucial. Regional Australia continues to face acute shortages, particularly in high-skilled roles (both in the health sector and beyond)[iii]. To address this shortage, the importance of regional universities cannot be overstated with more than 65% of employed regional university graduates remaining in regional areas on completion of their studies[iv].
Provision of additional CSPs and further funding to support JCU deliver Rural Health Medical Training will not only begin to address the skills shortage in the region but would increase equity and reduce disadvantage.
[i] Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections, https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections
[ii] Australian Government, Treasury, Intergenerational Report 2023, https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/p2023-435150.pdf
[iii] Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia, Towards a National Jobs and Skills Roadmap: Annual Jobs and Skills Report 2023, https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/publications/towards-national-jobs-and-skills-roadmap
[iv] Richardson, S. (2011). Higher education & community benefits: the role of regional provision. Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). https://research.acer.edu.au/joining_the_dots/26
Last updated: August 2024
Cairns' two universities are essential to building regional capacity and fostering the knowledge economy, particularly in addressing education and workforce gaps. James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns plays a pivotal role in healthcare training, now offering end-to-end medical education with 20 newly awarded Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs). However, with growing demand for medical professionals in Far North Queensland, additional CSPs are critical. JCU is uniquely positioned to address the region's primary care shortages through its integrated medical training programs. The Australian Government is urged to allocate further CSPs and invest in JCU's Rural Health Medical Training to strengthen the regional healthcare workforce and improve local health outcomes.
Benefits to the region
• Begin to address the unmet need for General Practitioners and Rural Generalists.
• Deliver high-quality local health care for regional Queensland.
• Improve equal access to education.
• Begin to address skills deficits across the nation.
Recommendation
The Australian Government:
1. To support the training and recruitment of Cairns-based clinicians, James Cook University receives 60 CSPs for its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) to begin in 2025, as well as an additional 50 places in 2026 to be announced in the 2024-25 Federal Budget.
2. To support the primary health care workforce and improve the supply and distribution of GPs within the Far North Queensland region, a further $5m per annum ongoing investment is sought to secure the Rural Health Medical Training delivered by JCU, to be announced in the 2024-25 Federal Budget.
Overview
Cairns’ two universities continue to play vital roles in capacity building and the knowledge economy in the region. Through collaborative partnerships and to address current gaps in education pathways, the universities are working to build capacity across a range of industries and community initiatives.
In the October 2022-23 Federal Budget, JCU Medicine in Cairns was awarded 20 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), meaning end-to-end medical training delivered in Cairns for the first time, thus building on almost 40 years of commitment by the University to Cairns. However, with no additional CSPs allocated from the recent nationally competitive grant round, the significant and growing unmet demand for medical labour in Far North Queensland is further exacerbated. It is critical that the Australian Government considers both JCU and the Queensland Government’s submissions for additional CSPs. Whilst JCU requested 40 places from the recent grant round for places to be offered in 2024, the University has the capacity to support 110 additional places delivered over two years if these were to be provided.
Further, JCU is also unique among Australian universities in delivering Fellowship training in General Practice for medical graduates since 2016, accredited by and working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Federal Government. JCU’s GP training is delivered alongside and integrated locally with JCU’s professional programs in medicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health, pharmacy, and dentistry. By investing in the JCU Model of integrated local community-based primary care training across regional Queensland, the government will expand the number of doctors and other professionals pursuing primary care careers in some of the most underserved communities in the country, and specifically, meeting Far North Queensland’s primary care health workforce shortages.
In the five years to 2028, projected employment in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry is forecast to increase by around 257,000[i]. This trend is expected continue in the coming decades with a workforce twice the size of 2020-21 required to meet demand in 2049-50[ii].
Ensuring demand is met will require a multifaceted approach and how our nation’s education and training sector responds to these skills needs is crucial. Regional Australia continues to face acute shortages, particularly in high-skilled roles (both in the health sector and beyond)[iii]. To address this shortage, the importance of regional universities cannot be overstated with more than 65% of employed regional university graduates remaining in regional areas on completion of their studies[iv].
Provision of additional CSPs and further funding to support JCU deliver Rural Health Medical Training will not only begin to address the skills shortage in the region but would increase equity and reduce disadvantage.
[i] Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections, https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/employment-projections
[ii] Australian Government, Treasury, Intergenerational Report 2023, https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/p2023-435150.pdf
[iii] Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia, Towards a National Jobs and Skills Roadmap: Annual Jobs and Skills Report 2023, https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/publications/towards-national-jobs-and-skills-roadmap
[iv] Richardson, S. (2011). Higher education & community benefits: the role of regional provision. Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). https://research.acer.edu.au/joining_the_dots/26
Last updated: August 2024
Explore more
Cairns Health and Innovation Centre
Enhance the health capabilities of Far North Queensland, leading to substantial improvements in health outcomes for residents and visitors.
Cairns Water Security Stage 1
Secure the water needs of 198,000 residents, visitors and industry, and build disaster resilience.
Cessna Caravan Flight Simulator
Secure Australia's first Cessna Caravan full flight simulator in Cairns to ensure safe training the only such centre for specific pilot training across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific.