Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit

The small student cohort means that students often have one on one teaching from consultants. It also means that students have plenty of opportunity to learn from patients and undertake clinical skills. Our dedicated team of teaching clinicians make sure our students become part of the clinical team and learn the skills they need to be effective and safe interns.

The clinical skills and simulation program provides students with the opportunity to learn and practice new clinical skills in a safe simulated environment, enabling them to feel more confident when they are undertaking these tasks in the clinical setting.

Clinical training is delivered through a mix of public and private healthcare providers, including:

• Hervey Bay Hospital
• Maryborough Hospital
• General Practitioners
• Private Specialists
• Allied health practitioners
• Other community-based healthcare providers.

The centre comprises:

• State of the art clinical simulation lab
• Task trainers and clinical skills facilities
• Mock ward
• Extensive teaching and learning resources
• Study and interaction spaces
• Quiet covered outdoor area.

View short term and long term accommodation options

Meet Geena

"Growing up in Sydney, I would never have expected to live in a regional town like Hervey Bay. However, I can definitely see myself working outside of metro areas throughout my career, for both professional and personal reasons, after my positive experience over the past two years."

Dr Geena Tebbutt graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) at our Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit
in 2022.

In 2023, Geena commenced her career as a doctor, interning at Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.

"In a smaller hospital, you are exposed to a broad range of presentations and conditions which I think prepares you to be a well-rounded junior doctor. You are given more opportunities to be involved with the team, accept some responsibilities, and practice skills.

"At the RCS, you know the staff and students well, and they endeavour to support your learning needs.

"Living in a regional town, the lifestyle is relaxed and easy-going with a strong sense of community, which nicely balances out the stressors of life as a medical student."

"The RCS support through our practical skills and simulation sessions has been invaluable, and something I feel really sets us apart from our metro counterparts.

"With teaching from both nurses and doctors, these weekly sessions improved both my confidence and my competence in a variety of clinical scenarios.

"As I progress through my career, I would like to pay forward the teaching, care and patience that was afforded to me by the clinical educators at the RCS as well as some lovely doctors in the hospital."

Meet Brenna

"I chose to complete my final two years of medical school in a rural area because I knew the opportunities it would bring me. I grew up in rural Queensland and felt that I would like to spend some time regionally again; the sense of community you get in a small town provides a sense of comfort that is very appreciated during stressful times."

Dr Brenna Shannon-Dear graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) at our Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit in 2022.

When asked whether she planned to return to regional Queensland in future, Brenna said "I would definitely work rural or remote in the future. I would like to gain some varied work experiences in different environments, but ultimately settle in a smaller, regional or rural area."

Brenna is now spending her intern year at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and hopes to gain varied experiences in surgery and paediatrics and see where that takes her.

After spending two years studying through the Rural Clinical School (RCS), Brenna said she would "absolutely recommend it to upcoming students for medical schooling."

"Studying at the RCS provided me the kind of supportive environment I didn't know I needed. The fact that I was surrounded by students in similar situations to me, as well as had easy access to staff who go out of their way to assist you made life that much easier. Living in a regional town is the kind of stress-free lifestyle you really benefit from during hard times - which everyone undoubtedly experiences," she said.

Meet Johanna

Johanna is a Year 3 MD student, currently studying in Hervey Bay.

What enticed you to study medicine?

I have always been interested in health and in particular preventative health for the betterment of our community and in particular the future of our young ones. As a Kamilaroi woman I have a strong calling to give back to my people and communities and am really excited to one day be able to provide culturally safe health care to my people. I am very passionate about being part of the change in this new era of medicine.

What’s your accommodation like in Hervey Bay?

The accommodation I am living in at Hervey Bay has everything you need – it’s so great to walk in from your trip to Brisbane with a house already set up. It has everything you need and with the addition with your personal items, a house becomes a home very quickly.  Everything in Hervey Bay is pretty close, so it makes weekend BBQs and social catch ups with other students very convenient.

What made you decide to study in Hervey Bay?

I wanted to have hands on experience as early on as I could in my clinical training and I am so glad I chose Hervey Bay for this. There is ample opportunity to become part of the team and you learn so much by being fully integrated. Because of the small number of students and size of the hospital, any exciting procedures or interesting presentations are shared among the consultants as learning opportunities for students so you get to see and do a lot. Aside from the hospital, the RCS itself does so much in terms of simulations, clinical skills tutorials and osce preparation to give you the best opportunity to succeed.

I also love the beach and living so close to the water is an added bonus!

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in Hervey Bay?

I love the closeness of everything and the laid back lifestyle! It’s easy to step back from the hustle and bustle of medicine and take a walk or run along the esplanade to de-stress. It’s also really fun being able to show family and friends around the sites.

Meet Nick and Lachlan, UQ Hervey Bay medical students

"There are less students so the doctors and other hospital staff get to know you. If you show that you are keen, present and paying attention they’ll invest in you and give you opportunities to be involved in the team."

Rural Clinical School
Hervey Bay Regional Clinical Unit
2-4 Medical Place (PO Box 1900)
Urraween QLD 4655
T: +61 7 4194 4800
Email: uqrcs.herveybay@uq.edu.au
            uqrcs.enquiries@uq.edu.au