QUT medical students ’significantly disrupted’ by doctors’ departure

Students at Queensland University of Technology faced upheaval to their studies because of the departure of experienced doctors leaving campus medical centres, it has been claimed.

Queensland University of Technology’s student guild has rejected the institution’s claims it was consulted about changes to campus medical centres, as it was revealed the university’s counsellors will soon be outsourced to contractors.

On Monday, The Courier-Mail revealed six doctors had left the Brisbane university’s medical centres over a contract dispute, leaving students and staff distressed.

Student president Oscar Davison told The Courier-Mail the guild had approached university management to get an understanding of what was happening.

“We had a couple of conversations, where we were essentially told that changes were being made – to me, that’s not consultation,” he said.

Queensland University of Technology’s student guild president Oscar Davison. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Mr Davison questioned why students had not been asked what services or changes to the medical centres they would like to see, given QUT had said any modifications would be to benefit the student body.

He also said the longstanding doctors who were leaving the medical centres had intimate knowledge of how to handle university-specific needs, such as medical certificates for assignment extensions.

“In my experience, some of our students have quite complex needs – having those health professionals leave is a really significant disruption to those students’ studies,” Mr Davison said.

“Especially if that medical professional goes to a practice then goes to a practice that doesn’t bulk-bill.”

National Tertiary Education Union Queensland secretary Michael McNally.

Meanwhile, an internal document obtained by The Courier-Mail reveals the university’s counselling services will transitioned to an “outsourcing model”, which will see no new on-staff counsellors employed.

National Tertiary Education Union Queensland secretary Michael McNally said counselling services were an “important and integral part” of the university.

“We oppose the outsourcing of critical university services, particularly those that focus on students,” he said.

“There’s no reason why the university needs to outsource these positions.”

Mr McNally said outsourcing counsellors without specialised knowledge of the university operations would ultimately lead to existing staff bearing the burden.