Our history

2001

Planning commenced for the establishment of the Rural Clinical Division in Central Queensland and South West Queensland, with the appointment of two specialists committed to rural education selected to lead the process.

2002

The Rural Clinical School commenced operations and trained 19 students in Toowoomba and nine in Rockhampton.

Toowoomba offices and teaching rooms were located at Cossart House at the Toowoomba Base Hospital site, whilst Rockhampton occupied seven offices on the fourth floor of the Yangulla Centre Building on Canning Street.        

All domestic UQ medical students had the opportunity to undertake an 8-week clinical placement in a small rural or remote town. 

2004

Operations commenced in Bundaberg with its first cohort of Year 3 medical students being taught in the Library on the Ground Floor of the Old Nurses Quarters at Bundaberg Hospital. 

2005

Operations commenced in Hervey Bay with its first cohort of Year 3 medical students from a single office in the Hervey Bay Hospital. 

The discipline of Rural and Remote Medicine was established.

2006

UQ Medical School increased the number of spaces available at the Rural Clinical School by 20% to meet increased demand in rural placements.

Over 100 full time medical students undertook their third and fourth year of clinical training in Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Toowoomba.

2008

A state-of-the-art teaching and learning space officially opened in Toowoomba on 25 July 2008, increasing capacity to suit up to 80 students. The building boasts a dedicated Clinical Skills Laboratory, advanced audio-visual equipment, 24-hour computer lab and a Lectopia education recording system. 

This was a joint venture between UQ and Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service.

2010

Funding Grants for $1.5M for buildings in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay were submitted to the Commonwealth – ICTTG (Innovative Clinical Teaching and Training Grant) and were successful.

The Sunshine Coast Wide Bay Health Service District committed provision of land and funds for the teaching and learning buildings in both Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.

2011

The Extended Placement Program commenced, offering students the opportunity to undertake both their Rural and Remote Medicine and General Practice placements in the same rural community. 

2012

A state-of-the-art teaching and learning space officially opened in Rockhampton on 18 October 2012, increasing capacity for students. The building boasts a Clinical Simulation and Immersion Unit that enables the training of medical, nursing and allied health students, interdisciplinary learning and also “up-skilling” practicing rural health care professionals.

This was a joint venture between UQ and Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service.

2015

Teaching and learning facilities in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay officially opened on 24 October, increasing capacity for students. The centres comprise of clinical simulation facilities, medical library and librarian, extensive teaching and learning resources and study and interaction spaces.

This was a joint venture between UQ and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.

2018

UQ Regional Training Hubs commenced operation in Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Southern Queensland to support medical students and junior doctors practicing in the region, and offering training all the way to Rural Generalist or Consultant Specialist Level.

2020

The University of Queensland joined an Australian-first university and hospital partnership; the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Regional Medical Pathway with CQUniversity, and the Central Queensland and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services. The partnership will educate up to 60 future doctors each year from 2023, allowing them to complete their entire medical training in Rockhampton and across Central Queensland or Bundaberg and across the Wide Bay region.

2021

The University of Queensland partnered with University of Southern Queensland, Darling Downs Health and South West Hospital and Health Service to establish the Darling Downs - South West Medical Pathway to educate over 100 future doctors within the next three years, increasing to 120 each year by 2026. The partnership will educate more than 30 future doctors each year from 2024, allowing students to complete their entire medical training in Toowoomba and the surrounding Darling Downs and South West Queensland. 

2022

The Rural Clinical School celebrates 20 years of educating regional, rural and remote doctors with 164 students currently placed across its four Regional Clinical Units. Future doctors who complete at least one year through RCS are four times more likely to work in rural, regional and remote communities and with the addition of two new Medical Pathways, our future medical workforce is more secure than ever.

The Rural and Remote Medicine Clinical Unit looks after over 250 six-week and thirty 12-week rural placements each year, ensuring all domestic students have an oppourtunity to have a rural clinical expereince.