JCU holds graduation ceremonies at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre
More than 1000 health science, medicine, dentistry and vet science students, along with their family and friends, celebrated their graduation from JCU at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.
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Pharmacy graduate Eren White has chosen a change of scenery to celebrate the end of her studies, swapping the lecture halls for the island life after choosing to start her career on Magnetic Island.
Ms White was one of more than 1000 graduates, along with their family and friends, who attended James Cook University’s graduation ceremonies on Thursday at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.
The graduation was the culmination of years of hard work from students of JCU’s College of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences and College of Healthcare Sciences.
Ms White said the day was one of excitement and relief and was looking forward to starting her role interning on Magnetic Island.
“I decided to go rural, remote which is exciting,” she said.
“You have a really close network of clients with the healthcare team over there, so that’s quite unique.”
Medicine graduate Patrick De Waele said the day was a mix of nerves and excitement, and that he was excited to begin his career as a doctor.
“I’ve been thinking about graduating for years and years and what it’s going to be like with the Dr in front of my name,” he said.
Mr De Waele went straight into his degree from high school before taking a few years off in the middle and then getting back into his studies.
He said he was inspired by his wife Rheannon, a fellow Medicine student in her final year, to complete his degree.
“We’ve just had a baby 18 months ago and being a stepdad as well completely changed my perspective,” he said.
The Townsville local has plans to start an internship at the Townsville University Hospital and said he was interested in getting into country medicine, after doing placements in rural areas during his degree.
“JCU is very passionate about training their doctors to meet the needs of their community,” he said.
“I’ll be in another rural town next year as part of my internship.”
Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Marcus Lane said it was a great day in the universities calendar.
“Today we are graduating 1121 students from across the health sciences,” he said.
“That is new doctors, new nurses, new pharmacists, new vet scientists, who will start their careers and build their lives here in North Queensland.”
Prof Lane said it was rewarding to see that many students have chosen to stay in the region.
“We continue to suffer from acute workforce shortages in the health workforce, so an influx of new doctors and new nurses is great,” he said.
“The way in which we place our students right across Northern Queensland gives them unrivalled experiences in regional areas in northern Australia and, inevitably, many of them fall in love with this place.”
With the next cohort of Year 12’s graduating, ATAR scores set to be released and study options being considered, Prof Lane said it was exciting to see what the next year brings for JCU.
“We are looking to grow our university, we’re looking to make our university even better and even stronger,” he said.
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Originally published as JCU holds graduation ceremonies at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre
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