JCU can potentially offer full medical degree in Cairns, critical for university hospital
While consensus is that Cairns was left out in the cold in the federal budget, there was one critical announcement that could benefit a major project in the city.
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THE ambitious JCU University Hospital project for Cairns has reached second base with the potential for medical students to complete all six years of their study in Cairns.
The federal budget provided $11.3m for the 80 new Commonwealth supported places (CSP) starting from 2023 to deliver full medical school programs at new or existing rural training locations.
Advance Cairns chairman Nick Trompf is heartened by the announcement because 80 is the number the peak body sought.
At present, JCU Townsville offers all six years of a medical degree but Cairns is limited to years four to six.
JCU must tender for some or all of the CSP but Mr Trompf believes its prospects of success are solid.
“It’s tailor made for JCU to secure as many places as possible,” Mr Trompf said.
“It is critical because without it, you won’t get University hospital status.
“The federal government took things to first base with $60m for the new building, if the Commonwealth-supported places come in, that’s second base – third is state government funding, which I think will come in time, and the proverbial home run will occur,” he said.
“JCU just needs to be on the front foot to secure as many places as they can, and Cairns will have a fully-fledged medical school.”
Work on the first stage of JCU’s building, the Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre, which will house teaching and research in medicine, allied health and other related areas, kicked off last November.
JCU is believed to have brokered a deal of up to $25m to buy 12,331sq m of property bounded by Sheridan, Digger and Charles streets in Cairns North.
The masterplan is yet to be released.
The Queensland Health component – which could still require another $160m investment – will be more focused on the medical and surgical requirements of tertiary-level facility status for Cairns Hospital.
JCU’s Cairns campus director Dr David Craig said JCU currently offered the final three years of medicine in Cairns, with students completing their first three years in Townsville.
“The Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre (CTEC), which we’ll be building near Cairns Hospital, would enable us to offer the whole degree in Cairns, pending availability of those additional places.
“CTEC will also house teaching and research in Allied Health and other related areas. It will deliver an expanded health workforce to the north, and provide social and economic benefits for the whole region.”
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