A medical internship with Central Queensland Health gives you hands-on experience in a wide range of clinical skills early in your career. You’ll work in a supportive environment and get valuable one-on-one time and personal guidance from consultants and registrars.
Your progression is our priority, and our easy-going lifestyle means you’ll have more time to enjoy the things you love.
Find application dates and information about the recruitment and selection process on the Queensland Health website.
Dr Nathan came to us as an intern in 2022. He is completing his advanced skill training year in anaesthetics at Rockhampton Hospital on the Rural Generalist pathway.
He has already secured a job for next year working half and half between Anaesthetics in Rocky and at Capricorn Coast Hospital.
He says the exposure to patients and cases is one of the best things about working in a regional centre like Rockhampton.
“You get to learn more here than in Brisbane. The Anaesthetic Department is a supportive learning environment.”
Another big plus is being able to choose rotations.
“I essentially got every term I wanted in the past three years. Consider coming to Rocky because of the ability you get onto training early and get the jobs you want rather than delaying for years.”
Originally from Canada, Dr Viveeka came to Rockhampton as a medical student. She completed her intern year and is currently working in anaesthetics on rotation.
“There’s lots of hands-on experience. As a medical student I did lots of cannulas and was never afraid to do a night ward call because I had already had plenty of supervised practice.”
Dr Viveeka says she did arterial blood gas tests, a chest drain, a lumbar puncture and lots of intubations – all skills that she would not have been exposed to so early in her career in a big city hospital.
“You have more one-on-one interactions with consultants and registrars, and they give a lot of assurance and ensure you are well trained for when you are on your own.
“I also help to run surgical lists with the consultants which is amazing. In the city you’re competing with more senior doctors, but in regional areas like Rockhampton the consultants know you by your first name."
Dr Shaheel is from Sri Lanka and came to Rockhampton Hospital to do his intern year in 2021. He loves it, and he’s still here, working in the Surgical Department.
“As a doctor-in-training I get much more exposure to hands-on procedures. I get to excise skin lesions, do open hernia repairs, laparoscopic surgery, and assist in surgeries. I’ve done more than 10 appendectomies, and I treat abscesses.”
“It’s improved the way I see patients, I work more efficiently, and my skills are growing, and you get so much more confidence in the operating theatre.”
“You won’t get that in a big city where there are fellows and registrars all competing for cases. In a tertiary centre you would only be doing paperwork in the beginning.”
Outside of work he’s made a lot of friends in the community. “I am a member of the Rockhampton Tamil Cricket Team. There are a lot of Sri Lankans and Indians in the community – that’s also keeping me here.”