The RCS operates across a number of sites - Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.

The RCS also has oversight of a network of Rural Placement Sites across the Central Queensland and South West Queensland training networks, providing short term rural placement opportunities for medical students.

Rockhampton

The Beef Capital of Australia is a thriving service town on the banks of the Fitzroy River located 700 kms north of Brisbane, and 40kms from the beautiful Capricorn Coast - the fastest growing urban corridor outside of SE Qld. With a population of just over 60,000, the city provides all the benefits of metropolitan living combined with a relaxed lifestyle.

Rockhampton provides clinical training placements for both Year 3 and Year 4 MBBS students.

“Although I was initially unsure of what I would be in for moving to Rocky, I'm definitely glad I made the move. The teaching here really is excellent, and there's lots of opportunity for hands-on experience. All the staff goes out of their way to help us students, and interaction with everybody from interns to consultants is friendly and relaxed. …spending this time in Rocky has really boosted my marks, my skills and my self-confidence. And of course, with the free rent, it's good for my struggling bank balance too.” – Former Y3 Rockhampton student

Rockhampton is the administrative centre for the RCS’s operations in the Central Queensland Region. The Regional Office is located in the historic Kenmore House on the campus of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital.

Learning Experience

Rockhampton is a major referral centre for health care services in the Central Queensland region. In this regard, the clinical training program includes opportunities and experiences in all the key discipline areas, and many sub-specialties such as Radiology, ENT, Urology and Ophthalmology.

Learning opportunities are offered at a number of sites – the Rockhampton Hospital (a 227 bed facility), the Mater Misericordiae Hospital (a 140 bed private facility), approved Teaching Practices and community health services. A strong team of dedicated teaching clinicians provide high quality experiences across all the core clinical disciplines where the emphasis is on student centred and small group learning.

The School has established a Clinical Skills Training Centre on the Mater Hospital campus to provide acute care and other skills training in a risk free environment using state of the art simulated patient technology and on line task trainers.

Lifestyle Experience

Whilst living and studying in Rockhampton students have access to a purpose-built Accommodation and Learning Centre ( See » Current Students » Rural School Accommodation ). The Centre comprises a residential complex providing townhouse and studio-style accommodation for up to 30 students together with administrative, tutorial and seminar facilities.

“Although Rockhampton markets itself as the beef capital, it's not like there are cows walking down the main street. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants around Rockhampton. The beaches at Yeppoon and Emu Park are only 30 minutes away by car and from Yeppoon, you can get across to Great Keppel Island. Some students spend weekends away camping in the national parks or fossicking at the gemfields.”- Former Y3 Rockhampton student

 

Toowoomba

Popularly known for its impressive parks, gardens and pleasant climate, Toowoomba is situated on the edge of the Great Dividing Range at an altitude of 600-700 meters. The city, with a population of 90,000 and a further 30,000 in the immediate region, is only 90 minutes by road from Brisbane.

Toowoomba provides clinical training places for MBBS students in their third and/or fourth years.

Toowoomba is the administrative centre for the Division’s operations in South West Queensland. The Regional Office is located in the historic Cossart House on the campus of the Toowoomba Base Hospital.

Learning Experience

The Toowoomba Hospital is where life as a doctor begins for students.

“The most outstanding aspect of learning in Toowoomba is the genuine enthusiasm of the senior medical staff. If you show just a bit of interest, Registrars and Consultants fall over themselves to teach you. Due to the small number of students, the staff are able to spend time with you individually or in small groups for teaching sessions. These sessions are often very practical and incorporate skill acquisition as well as information to improve our knowledge base. The nature of the hospital and staffing here in Toowoomba also means that as a student you are often afforded opportunities to perform procedures and other tasks that may have been grabbed by a registrar or intern in Brisbane. I’m sure that my year in Toowoomba has enhanced my clinical skills substantially…” – Former Y3 Toowoomba student

“Both the academic and the medical staff have been fantastic. The doctors are all very keen to help and not once this year have I felt intimidated by a doctor. The students have become friends with many of the doctors and allied health staff and we go out with them quite regularly…” - Former Y3 Toowoomba student

Lifestyle Experience

“Toowoomba is a pretty good place to live. There’s plenty to do, and it has a good feel about the place. There’s plenty of good pubs, and they’re all nice, casual and relaxed, so you don’t have to be dressed in the newest trendy valley clothes to get in. There’s a fair few young people here as well, with USQ here and people are out to have fun, rather than just be seen in some places in Brisbane. There’s good sporting facilities, with competitions in all the major sports. Basically you can do anything in Toowoomba that you could in Brisbane & if you ever do need to go to Brisbane for anything, it is only an hour and a half away…” – Former Y3 Toowoomba student

Bundaberg

The " Charm City" is located 360 kms north of Brisbane and offers all the facilities and services of a modern regional centre, with a dash of "country charm."

“Bundaberg has been a lot of fun... plenty to see and do, and I've had some of the most memorable times of my life up here. You become very close to the group of students you live with... whether or not you knew them before, you really do form some very close bonds. I won't soon forget a lot of what I've learned up here, both in and out of a medical context.” – Former Y3 Bundaberg student

Learning Experience

A placement at Bundaberg will provide a unique learning experience. A dedicated team of academic clinicians working across public, private and community sectors, draw upon all the resources of the local health care community. The clinical training team are committed to assisting students to become an interested, safe, caring and competent clinician. Clinical placements are available at the Bundaberg Base Hospital (140 bed acute care facility), Mater Misericordiae Hospital and The Friendlies Hospital (83 and 55 bed, respectively) and in approved Teaching Practices. As well, community health services provide a range of distinctive learning opportunities.

”The smaller hospital size means that they all know you and the smaller student cohort means that you get plenty of one-on-one face time with them. I'm sure I've done a lot more hands-on and point-of-care clinical work than many Brisbane students would do.” – Former MBBS Student

Library and information technology services are available through a well resourced Teaching and Learning Centre located at the Bundaberg Base Hospital. This facility includes library, conference (tele, video and face-to-face), and IT services and facilities. The UQ Liaison Librarian and ICT Support Officer, based in Rockhampton, makes regular site visits, and there is an on site Medical Education Officer to support students' information service and resource needs.

Lifestyle Experience

The Bundaberg community welcomes MBBS students and there are ample opportunities to become actively involved in sporting, cultural and recreational pursuits. The professional community are particularly supportive, with students regularly invited to events organised by the local Division of General Practice and other community groups.

Residential accommodation is available to students in a tastefully appointed townhouse complex owned and managed by the University, conveniently located close to the main teaching hospitals and practices.

Hervey Bay/Maryborough

Hervey Bay is the hub of the RCS’s activities at the Fraser Coast. Hervey Bay is a rapidly growing regional centre with a population of slightly over 50,000. It is world renowned as the whale watching capital of Australia and as the gateway to World Heritage listed Fraser Island and receives around 1 million visitors each year with a large proportion of those being international backpackers. Miles upon miles of picture perfect beaches provide the foreground to the café and restaurant lined Esplanade. Clinical training places are available to MBBS Y3 students (with their own transportation) who share their time between teaching sites at Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

Learning Experience

The learning experience provided to MBBS students on the Fraser Coast is second to none. There are distinct advantages to students who choose to study here, such as state of the art clinical sites and low student to teacher ratios. The teaching is also provided at a very personal level by highly esteemed clinicians who ensure students receive practical experience (e.g. average of 4 “scrub-ins” per week in surgery). Learning is also broadened and enhanced by the utilisation of the private health sector. St Stephen’s Private Hospital and the newly opened Hervey Bay Surgical Centre both play key roles in student learning.

“I have found the clinical experience in Hervey Bay very positive. Access to teaching I have found to be excellent, particularly when the student is proactive in seeking learning opportunities” – Former Y3 Hervey Bay student

"We were warmly welcomed by doctors and other health professionals in Hervey Bay, and made to feel as though we had a role on the medical team. The teaching was of an excellent standard, and the tutorials from consultants were gold. I feel that I have become more confident in my interactions with patients and health professionals alike, and I have gained much procedural practice. Being in a smaller hospital meant that you could really get to know the people on the team, both professionally and socially, and this made for a very positive clinical experience." – Former Y3 Hervey Bay student

Lifestyle Experience

Hervey Bay has a large range of entertainment choices and offers students a variety of social, sporting and leisure opportunities to suit all lifestyles. From lazing on the beach or enjoying a coffee at a beachfront cafe to wilderness adventures on Fraser Island or enjoying the local nightlife with friends, there is something for everyone. The lifestyle experience for past students has been so positive that some students even return to the area to visit with close friends they met whilst studying here. Students also enjoy free accommodation in a modern setting that is central to all the shopping and nightlife hotspots.

“The lifestyle in Hervey bay is very relaxed, a student can spend most of the day in the hospital, and still enjoy an hour or so on the beach in the late afternoon. There are numerous activities to pass the weekends and holidays, from simply enjoying the beach, to hiking over on Fraser Island. Overall I believe that my education has been vastly improved by my year here, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting more experience from their education…” - Former Y3 Hervey Bay student

Rural Placement Sites

In the case of MBBS Y3 students undertaking the mandatory 8 week Rural Medicine Rotation, placements are available with local rural practitioners and hospitals in locations such as: