Today, The University of Queensland (UQ) proudly celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit (RCU) building and honours everyone who has walked through its doors.
In 2005, Hervey Bay welcomed their first cohort of year 3 Doctor of Medicine students from a single office in the Hervey Bay hospital, and nine years later a custom-built teaching and learning building was established.
The building was a collaboration between the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service and the Commonwealth Government, which allowed the Hervey Bay RCU to increase its capacity, educating 17 students in 2014.
Rural Clinical School Director, Associate Professor Riitta Partanen says that the bonds between our collaborating partners, staff and students, both past and present are still strong in 2024.
“Today we not only celebrate the anniversary of the building, but the friendships, bonds and connections made here.
“The building is the physical representation that holds the legacies and successes stories for our community,
"We play a vital role in shaping the future healthcare in Hervey Bay by educating the next generation of doctors, with the hope they will remain in the region after they graduate” Dr Partanen said.
Today, our Hervey Bay staff members take pride working in the space to support and provide students with clinical training, built upon hands-on experiences in hospitals and community-based rural healthcare settings.
The team provide the students with the unique opportunity to live, work and immerse themselves in the Hervey Bay community. Medical graduates who spend an extended time in a rural clinical school are more likely to practice in rural and remote areas than those who have not.
Hervey Bay RCU Head, Dr Rudi Prasad is proud to be part of the team and says that the friendly and nurturing atmosphere has created a sense of belonging from the outset.
“We have staff that have been with us since the beginning, we play a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare in rural areas, and we are proud to acknowledge that eight past Hervey Bay students are now part of the local health community.
"We have a supportive environment with a network of like-minded professionals dedicated to excellence in rural medical education.
“We are so grateful to welcome back so many of those who have been connected with us in some way through the years to celebrate this milestone with us,” Dr Prasad said.
In 2024, 27 Year 3 and 4 students are based at the Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit.
