I always wanted to be a rural doctor and so when I was in my final year
of high school and applying to medical schools
There was one that really stood out James Cook University had the reputation
of producing the most work-ready graduates of any medical school in Australia
I chose JCU because of the focus on rural and remote health
I like the fact that it's about bridging the gap
Especially in indigenous communities I love the fact that we get
twice as many hours as any other uni in the practical sense
The greatest difference is the hands-on experience you get
At JCU I had my first placement experience as a first year student
after just 12 weeks in the degree
I absolutely love our placements We sort of get to plan our own placements
and choose where we want to do them and one of my favourite placements
was out at Mount Isa and Cloncurry on cattle stations and helping out with
horse camp drops
They really do train us to be rural vets
We get great surgeries to work in We're seeing patients
we're actually getting to do things and we're work ready when we graduate
I think everyone had a job you know, within the
first couple of months of graduation
James Cook University has its main campuses in Cairns, Townsville and Singapore
We have our Centre for Rural and Remote Health headquartered out here in Mount Isa
with nodes in Cloncurry, Longreach and Weipa and student accommodation in
the top of the channel country at Boulia and out into the gulf at Normanton
Our rural clinical school has headquarters in Cairns and Mackay
and the Atherton Tablelands and Torres Strait
and so you can see that we are able to make a very strong commitment to you
that you will have an outstanding experience in rural, remote, tropical and indigenous health
It's just a great uni it's got great lecturers
In high school you're sort of told oh the lecturers don't care
they don't care about you but at JCU they really do
like they really want you to pass and they really want to help you out
Once they knew who you were and you knew who they were
You're never just a number or you know, a face in the crowd
They knew your name they recognised you
They're all there to help you learn and to further your education
We have across all of our programs
of the university fantastic leadership who guide
and mentor and teach the students
Supervision is always close by and you never feel unsafe
in this learning environment
When you undertake a clinical placement in a rural and remote area
We provide accommodation in purpose-built student accommodation
close by to our facilities
We get accommodation which is amazing especially as a student
We have people from all over Australia with different interests coming together
living in a house
One of the nicest houses I've ever lived in
That accommodation is multi-disciplinary so you have wonderful opportunities
to meet students of other health disciplines who are undertaking similar placements
to yourself
We get to do inter-professional learning so every second week we get to
come together as various disciplines and learn about different conditions
different things that might affect different areas and that's really good
because it gives you a better idea of how we might actually be able
to work together
Outside of the hospital is where the real fun starts
Last weekend I went to the Mount Isa Rodeo This is the largest rodeo in
the southern hemisphere
We get to go to street parties get to hang out with the locals
Everyone's super friendly and I really love it here
Everyone's really welcoming and you kind of feel a part of the community
Everyone who comes out here on rural placement
just has the best time and the most positive experiences
You have to be good to work in outback Australia
And whether or not you choose a career in rural and remote health
or elsewhere The training you get in rural
and remote areas will set you up to take a career anywhere in the world
You know I've looked back on this six years as the best six years of my life
and I can't recommend it enough
We're focused on working with the students to make sure that we develop
a workforce that we need for the future
So if you're interested in a health career and you have a sense of adventure
then JCU is the university for you