776 junior doctors kick off careers in Queensland public hospitals

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath today met with some of Queensland’s newest junior doctors who are part of a 776-strong Statewide intake.

Minister D’Ath met the new recruits at The Prince Charles Hospital on Brisbane’s northside, where she was joined by Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan and Member for Aspley Bart Mellish.

“Queensland Health will welcome 776 junior doctors as they step into our hospital corridors around the state this month,” the Minister said.

“Across Queensland, medical interns and graduate nurses will launch the next stage of their careers in 44 of our public hospitals in 2021.

“These medical interns and graduate nurses have worked extremely hard to get to this stage of their career and I congratulate them on their achievement.

“I’m especially grateful they are joining Queensland’s health system during a global pandemic, where they will no doubt face extra challenges they may not have anticipated when they commenced their study.

“Queensland’s doctors and nurses have kept us safe during COVID and these new health workers will help that work continue.”

Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan said:

“World class hospitals like Prince Charles provide excellent training grounds where junior doctors and graduate nurses can learn from very respected clinicians and senior nurses.

“I want to wish our new northside graduates all the very best in their careers.”

Member for Aspley Bart Mellish said:

“It’s great to see these new recruits at Prince Charles Hospital out there on the frontline, delivering the services northside residents need.

“I’m proud to be a member of a government that’s investing in a record $21.8 billion health budget that’s delivering exceptional services for Queenslanders.”

Minister D’Ath said the Palaszczuk Government would deliver 9,475 extra doctors, nurses paramedics and other health workers over the next four years.

Queensland’s new medical interns and graduate nurses will participate in orientation programs to familiarise themselves with their respective hospital, its services and clinical practice and procedures.

The medical interns will then begin rotations through three core terms including General Medicine, General Survey and Emergency Medicine plus two elective terms in other specialised areas.

As they embark on their professional journey, the graduate nurses are provided with preceptor support and a range of transition support programs, immersions and accelerated specialisation programs to assist them to safely and effectively transition into their new clinical practice environments.

More information about Queensland’s clinical recruitment campaigns can be found at health.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008