2025’s cohort of interns started their first Day at CHHHS

The Cairns Hospital and Health Service has welcomed 2025’s cohort of young doctors, strengthening Queensland’s struggling regional health system.

59 interns started their first day as Doctors at Cairns Hospital last week. The young interns will get experience across Cairns Hospital and Health Service over the next year as the progress through different rotations. Dr Gus Spaleck, Dr Annabel Brennan and Dr Trent Yarwood. Photo Tim Little.

The Cairns Hospital and Health Service has welcomed 2025’s cohort of young doctors, strengthening Queensland’s struggling regional health system.

Throughout the next year, interns will get experience across CHHHS with some getting to work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Dr Annabelle Brennan said her title still felt surreal, but she was excited about the future.

“It (the title) feels weird to hear,” Dr Brennan said.

“It’s been a long time coming, so definitely a highly anticipated moment but lots to learn still, and lots to absorb.”

The cohort of 59 started their first day on Thursday, many of which choose Cairns to pursue their dreams of becoming a rural generalist.

The sub branch of doctors are general practitioners trained across a variety of skills across such as obstetrics, anaesthetics, and mental health services.

The broad skill sets gives doctors the tools needed to treat all types of patient’s when travelling to a big city just isn’t feasible.

Dr Brennan said she was inspired to become a doctor after providing remote healthcare in Nepal.

“I’ve been part of an organisation … which helped service rural and remote areas of Nepal for women’s health,” she said.

“Then throughout my medical degree I did various placements at Palm Island, Thursday Island, and a few others.

“These really solidified for me that I want to do that sort of work … a lot of these communities, they just don’t have access to the same services … so it’s really important to be able to give those people consistent healthcare.”

Director of Clinical Training at Cairns Hospital Dr Trent Yarwood said a major reason for the high retention rate of interns was the exciting and diverse work they get to see, which is vastly different from metropolitan areas. Dr Gus Spaleck, Dr Annabel Brennan and Dr Trent Yarwood. Photo Tim Little.

Mr Gus Spaleck, who relocated from Townsville to join the intake, said working in Cairns was an opportunity to get his hands dirty.

“A lot of being a student is sitting, observing, being a bit of a pot plant,” Dr Spaleck said.

“But I realised that when you’re in the rural areas, everyone works as a team and you get involved.

“Working in those smaller places, you get to do a lot more.”

Director of Clinical Training at Cairns Hospital Dr Trent Yarwood said the diversity with working in the regions contributed to the high staff retention rate.

“More than 80 per cent of our interns decide to stay on for a second,” Dr Yarwood said.

“It’s really a fabulous place to work, you see medicine unlike anywhere else in Australia.

“For the junior doctors, you get an opportunity to get your hands dirty in a way that you don’t in the big cities … it’s much more hands-on.”

Originally published as 2025’s cohort of interns started their first Day at CHHHS