Federal Govt dedicates $80m to Rockhampton Health Sciences Academy

The Federal Government has committed $80 million in funding for a Health Sciences Academy to be located in Rockhampton if re-elected.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek and Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland at Rockhampton's CQUniversity medical training lab on March 26, 2025.

The Federal Government has committed $80 million in funding for a Health Sciences Academy to be located in Rockhampton if re-elected.

The announcement was made at a press conference held at Rockhampton’s CQUniversity’s medical training labs by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and the funding goes hand-in-hand with the Queensland Government’s existing commitment to the project.

The Rockhampton campus will be the first regionally-based Queensland Academy and will seek to establish a direct partnership with CQUniversity.

Mr Clare was joined by Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland, Mirani MP Glen Kelly and CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President Nick Klomp.

Labor Federal Government Education Minister Jason Clare committed $80 million in funding for a Health Sciences Academy during a press conference at Rockhampton’s CQUniversity medical training labs with Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek and Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland on March 26, 2025.

“It is a great example of two governments working together,” Mr Clare said.

“Commonwealth Government chipping in, State Government chipping in, to help make sure young people in regional Australia get the skills they need to produce the doctors, the nurses and the ambos and the health science professionals we need now and in the years ahead.”

The Academy would cater to students from years’ 10 to 12 by allowing them to gain credit for university health science degrees while still at school.

Vice-Chancellor Klomp was ecstatic about the announcement.

“I want to congratulate Jason and JP (John-Paul) and our local members, Donna and Glen, for recognizing the importance of workforce in the regions,” he said.

“CQUniversity provides graduates in a whole range of health disciplines… we can’t produce enough graduates that’s how important it is to a region.

Labor Federal Government Education Minister Jason Clare committed $80 million in funding for a Health Sciences Academy during a press conference at Rockhampton’s CQUniversity medical training labs with Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland, Mirani MP Glen Kelly, Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek and CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President Nick Klomp on March 26, 2025.

“This announcement of the Queensland Academy of Health Science helps build aspiration for people who are thinking about getting a head start in their studies and would like a career in health sciences and CQUniversity just stands ready to work in partnerships with the schools, with the state, on what can we do to use this Academy to really prioritize the potential of health careers in the region.

“We need all the graduates in health science that we can get.”

Prior to the announcement Mr Clare and the accompanying state MPs talked to some of the first year students studying a Bachelor of Medical Science Pathway to Medicine.

Ms Kirkland said 70 per cent of people who study in the region stay in the region.

“That’s what we are wanting out of this,” she said.

This latest funding comes two days after an announcement of $2.8 billion in extra Commonwealth funding for Queensland public schooling.

Originally published as Federal Govt dedicates $80m to Rockhampton Health Sciences Academy