Full medical degree now available for JCU Cairns students

Hundreds of Far North medical students have celebrated a milestone pathway in achieving their medical degree, without having to move from home.

Hundreds of students celebrate James Cook University’s end-to-end medical degree, now available at the Nguma-bada campus in Smithfield. PICTURE: File

Hundreds of Far North medical students have celebrated a milestone pathway in achieving their medical degree, without having to move from home.

James Cook University medical students gathered at the Nguma-bada campus in Smithfield to celebrate the first time students could be enrolled in all six years of its medical program in Cairns.

Dean of JCU’s College of Medicine and Dentistry Professor Sarah Larkins said previously the first three years of the degree had to be completed outside of Cairns, with years one, two and three being introduced sequentially in the city since 2023.

The end-to-end medical degree was previously available through JCU in Townsville.

“All six years are now up and running in Cairns,” Professor Larkins said.

“We are proud that students can now complete their entire medical training in Cairns, with additional small rural and remote placements.”

The milestone means prospective Far North medical students will no longer need to move away from the region to begin their degree.

She said reaching the end-to-end medical training in Cairns would help grow a future medical workforce for the city and Far North Queensland.

“We know that two thirds of the JCU students stay in the region after graduating,” she said.

“In addition, growth of the medical program will both create jobs and increase the attractiveness of the region for other health and medical professionals and their families to come, and importantly, to stay.”

Academic lead for Foundation Medical Studies Cairns, Associate Professor Julie Mudd, said students would undergo the same training as those based in Townsville.

“It’s the same program and the same curriculum. The only difference is we hope our Cairns cohort will develop a distinctive Cairns flavour that will help to reflect the uniqueness of the region,” Prof Mudd said.

Originally published as Full medical degree now available for JCU Cairns students