Specialist medical training in Northern Queensland 

Discover a supported training experience from intern to fellowship and work with an experienced collective of doctors to address the health needs of northern Queensland.

Our network of partners provides trainees with access to a wide range of hospital and health settings of varying sizes. NQRTH can connect you with training pathway options in 54 medical specialties.

Traditionally, interns and junior doctors gravitated towards metropolitan hospitals due to a perception that specialty training opportunities existed only in those locations. NQRTH, with its collaborative network of 31 hospitals and 65 health services, provide plenty of opportunities to pursue your training in northern Queensland.

Within our North Queensland training opportunities, the breadth of clinical cases is broad and includes treatment of conditions unique to the Tropics. We offer an optimal ratio of trainees per consultant to enable interaction and guidance from your supervisors. The result is strong relationships, improving the opportunity to receive a quality reference that will support your entry into the specialist training program of your choice. 

These North Queensland training opportunities in conjunction with the lifestyle and adventure on offer, clearly explains why doctors in training are choosing to pursue medical careers in northern and regional Queensland.

>   Find out more about specialty training opportunities by region

Interns

For graduating medical students, the intern year is a daunting prospect. You can set yourself up for success by choosing a hospital setting that offers a supportive teaching environment with hands-on training from experienced and passionate supervisors.

Dr Mahima Balaji began her intern year at Townsville University Hospital after completing multiple placements across the region. The decision to stay in Townsville was easy, thanks to the hospital’s strong sense of community and support. 

“The hospital environment is incredibly welcoming, and I know I’ll continue to grow and learn alongside amazing mentors,” Dr. Balaji said. “The consultants, registrars, and staff are always willing to teach and include us as part of the team. 

There are more than 170 intern positions available in the four regional Hospitals in northern Queensland with many placement opportunities also available across the 31 rural hospitals from Tambo in the southwest to Thursday Island in the far north. NQRTH can help guide you through the Queensland Health’s Intern Recruitment process.

> Find out more about intern opportunities in our region

Doctors in training

Want to train in a setting where you can grow rapidly while making a real difference in communities that need you? Regional and rural hospitals and health services settings are the places to be for doctors looking for diversity, a unique medical experience, and job satisfaction.

Associate Professor Kaushik (Kosh) Hazratwala, a world-leading orthopaedic surgeon, has dedicated over 15 years to mentoring future generations of doctors in Townsville’s public and private healthcare sectors.  

“In regional areas, junior doctors work more closely with senior staff than in larger cities,” Assoc Prof Kosh said. “With fewer registrars and junior doctors per team, there are more opportunities to build strong professional relationships and gain valuable mentorship. 

There are around 300 junior doctor positions available in northern Queensland. NQRTH can help guide you through the North Queensland training opportunities, the Registered Medical Officer recruitment, and support you in your endeavour to access the specialty training pathway.

> Find out more about training opportunities for RMOs

Research

It’s never too early in your career to get involved in medical research.

There is no shortage of research opportunities on offer in North Queensland for doctors in training. With a focus on addressing health issues affecting the Tropics and Northern Australia, James Cook University, hospitals and health services, and other research institutes, conduct research projects that welcome participation from medical students and doctors in training.

Professor Andrew Mallett, an expert in kidney genetics, knows firsthand how impactful research can be — not just for personal growth but for improving patient outcomes on a broad scale. He encourages students and junior doctors to embrace research, no matter when they start. 

“Conducting research in underserved communities like northern Queensland, who haven’t always had first bite at the apple, is important,” Prof. Mallett said. “The types of patients and challenges we see here are different from those in Melbourne or Sydney, and that makes it even more vital".

> Find out more about the research opportunities in northern Queensland

Mapping Your Career

With over 600 accredited training positions across the regions, there are plenty of opportunities to start your journey as a doctor in northern Queensland.

Use this interactive to map your career pathway in your dream medical specialty. For more information on North Queensland training opportunities with NQRTH, get in touch with us today.