Andrea Muller

Program Manager, Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs

Home Town/City: Grew up in Brisbane and moved to Townsville in 2012.

Qualifications/Education:
Bachelor of Business, Accounting, QUT.

Tell us about your role:
I work with Regional Training Hubs staff and Hospitals and Health Services across the North Queensland region to promote the training opportunities available across the training continuum in this region. Our collaborative relationship with JCU and the Hospitals and Health Services allows us to support medical students and junior doctors to access unique training placements and opportunities. We support mentoring, career advice and planning, professional development and linking student groups with Registrars and Consultants.

What do you find most rewarding part of your role?
Working with professionals who are all so passionate about regional and remote health and wanting to give back to the community. The North offers such complex and unique caseloads which provides doctors and students with unparalleled learning opportunities. It is rewarding to see our students graduate, complete junior doctor years either in the region or away but then come back to complete their specialty training and become consultants in the region.

Steph Sherriffs

Coordinator, Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs - Cairns region

Home Town/City: Cairns Local

Qualifications/Education:
I have previously worked in Marketing and Advertising environments. I also have a background in event planning and business administration.

Tell us about your role:
My primary objective is to champion the education and training opportunities offered in Cairns. My role is dynamic and engaging. I collaborate with various stakeholders, ranging from our medical students to colleagues within the Cairns and Hinterland Hospitals and Health Services, throughout our expansive far north region.

What do you find is the most rewarding part of your role? 
Being a local girl born and bred, I take immense pride in having the opportunity to promote the possibilities within the field of medicine, right here in Cairns.

Now that it’s possible to complete your medical career from start to finish in our wonderful city, the opportunities available to the next generation of doctors is very exciting.

I love being part of the team that contributes to improving health outcomes for the community I call home.

Rebecca Jones

Coordinator, Regional Medical Training - Townsville

Home Town/City: Originally Roma, then moved to a small-town Acland, near Toowoomba, then Townsville. 

Qualifications/Education:
I hold a Cert IV in Training and Assessing and have worked in the registered training organisation (RTO) space. My experience varies including positions in management, administration, and accounts in the healthcare and hospitality industries.

Tell us about your role:

I am based in Townsville at the JCU clinical school situated at the Townsville University Hospital and balance time within the JCU clinical school at Mater Private Hospital Townsville as well.

My role is to support the training continuum working with student doctors in the undergraduate program, through to fellowship, and beyond.

I have the opportunity to collaborate with the Medical Education units at both the Townsville University Hospital and Mater North Queensland, along with student groups and other medical officer support groups within the region.

The role is so varied and that is why I love it. One day I can be doing administrative support, another day I could be supporting or running events, or promoting and expanding the education and training opportunities available to students and doctors.
Some days I am working closely with revered clinical professionals as well as the next generation of doctors to support the workforce in our region. We discuss what is needed to ensure longevity of our workforce and put that into action.

What do you find is the most rewarding part of your role?

Most of my life I have always wanted a career where I feel like I am making a difference when I come to work. Coming to work to earn a wage (although necessary) doesn’t get me through the day. Although I don’t ever see myself working as a healthcare professional, if I can support doctors and support a new generation to stay in our region, I feel I have a greater purpose.

To have medical services available to those in need has a profound impact to entire communities. To see our local network and the widespread passion is inspiring. The way the most experienced doctors take their time to pass down their expertise to the next generation, and then the junior doctors to pass to the medical students, and the appreciation for that knowledge in return. It is like a complex entity of knowledge and constant learning.

As someone who comes from regional and rural areas, I understand the impact the work of NQRTH has on the ground.

Lisa Fanning

Coordinator, Regional Medical Training – North West and Central West region

Home Town/City: Mount Isa

Qualifications/Education:

After gaining a Bachelor Degree in Biological Science, I originally went to work in the Food Manufacturing and Research sector as a Starter Culture Research Technologist. Since then, I have gone on to work within various industries, including food research/manufacturing, maritime and then mining before finding myself in the University/Health industry.

All positions were based in rural or remote regions, which has given me a broad range of exposure and experience. Across varying industries and sectors, each role circled back to my passion for training support and facilitation in one way or another, which is what attracted me to the NQRTH role

Tell Us About Your Role:

Based out of the JCU Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health (MCRRH) offices in Mount Isa, my role involves reaching out to various health organisations to promote training opportunities that may help guide doctors through their goal career path.

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

I enjoy having the opportunity to work collaboratively with other organisations to make a difference in rural and remote health amongst my local community, as well as other remote regions of Queensland.