Students can enrol in a Bachelor of Medical Imaging in Cairns as early as 2026

Students will be able to train in medical imaging and radiography in Far North Queensland as early as next year following the government's multimillion-dollar bipartisan commitment.

Students will be able to train in medical imaging and radiography in Far North Queensland as early as next year following the government’s multimillion-dollar bipartisan commitment. Picture: Supplied.

Students will be able to train in medical imaging and radiography in Far North Queensland as early as next year following a multimillion-dollar bipartisan commitment from the federal government.

A Bachelor of Medical Imaging is set to be offered through CQUniversity after it secured funding to build a new wing at its Cairns campus.

The build, aimed at addressing severe health workforce shortages in the region, is expected to be completed by 2028.

Queensland X-Ray medical imaging services located within the Cairns Private Hospital building at 144 Lake Street, Cairns city. Picture: Brendan Radke

In the meantime Queensland X-Ray will provide access to its practice and equipment in Cairns so imaging students can start almost immediately.

A Queensland X-Ray spokesman said plans to establish the permanent medical imaging course at CQUniversity’s Cairns campus from 2028 were welcomed.

“Queensland X-Ray welcomes the announced support for the development of the CQUniversity campus,” he said.

“We feel this demonstrates QXR’s ongoing commitment to the Cairns region and highlights the benefits of training and retaining staff locally.”

Both major parties pledged $27.5m, on Thursday, April 10, for the new wing expansion.

The university is also contributing another $10m, on top of the $50m already committed by the federal government earlier this year, bringing the total funding for the project to $87.5m.

Exercise and Sports Science Australia chief executive Danielle Smith. Picture: Supplied.

Exercise and Sports Science Australia chief executive Danielle Smith said the expansion had the potential to expand the allied health workforce in the region.

“The Prime Minister specifically mentioned exercise physiology as a key profession that will benefit from increased student numbers,” she said.

“This means North Queensland can look forward to more accredited exercise physiologists, providing essential healthcare services.”

Exercise physiologists provide support for NDIS, obesity control, chronic disease management, mental health care, aged care, injured worker rehabilitation, and general fitness.

“This announcement is also a win for the local economy in Cairns and the surrounding region,” Ms Smith said.

Originally published as Students can enrol in a Bachelor of Medical Imaging in Cairns as early as 2026