Learning Communities
The UQ MD Learning Communities are clusters of health care providers including hospital and community-based services, general practices, and other community providers. Importantly, these Learning Communities comprise the students and staff based in the facilities and provide a platform where they can flourish in a mutually supportive environment, where relationships and connections are forged, and students nurtured.
Our Learning Communities provide a small cohort experience within large cohort experience, which supports improved connection and engagement. The longitudinal relationships inherent in the Learning Communities model are integral to effective teaching and learning, support progress toward attainment of the graduate attributes and promote excellence in clinical practice and scholarly endeavours.
Provide an environment where medical students can flourish from day one of their studies, in a mutually supportive environment. Support and academic guidance is the priority for the whole of the program.
Enable students to form relationships and connections with their peers as well as professional, academic, and clinical staff. Student-centred education promotes inclusivity and a sense of belonging.
Based around clusters of health care facilities which includes hospitals, community-based services and general practices to enhance the learning experience and offer activities and engagement.
The clusters forming the UQ MD Learning Communities are the following:
Greater Brisbane Clinical School
Rural Clinical School
Comprises:
- Central Queensland Learning Community
- Wide Bay Learning Community
- Darling Downs and South West Queensland Learning Community
Ochsner Clinical School
How am I allocated to a Learning Community?
Students are allocated to their Learning Community based on their entry pathway to the UQMD.
Entry Pathway | Learning Community |
|---|---|
Central Queensland Regional Medical Pathway | You will join the Central Queensland Learning Community upon entry to the UQMD. |
Wide Bay Regional Medical Pathway | You will join the Wide Bay Learning Community upon entry to the UQMD.
You will be based in Bundaberg for Years 1 and 2 of the program, and will have the opportunity to be based at either Bundaberg or Hervey Bay for Years 3 and 4. |
Darling Downs Southwest Medical Pathway | You will join the Darling Downs Southwest Learning Community upon entry to the UQMD. |
UQ-Ochsner | You will be part of the UQ-Ochsner program upon entry to the UQMD. You will be based at the St Lucia campus in Year 1 before being allocated to either the Central or South Learning Community for Year 2. You will then be based at the Ochsner Clinical School in New Orleans for Years 3 and 4. |
Greater Brisbane | You will be based at the St Lucia campus in Year 1. During Year 1, you will be asked to preference the Learning Community that you will join from Year 2 and for the remainder of the program. |
Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to experience other learning communities.
Engagement with other Clinical Units
Greater Brisbane Clinical School
Additional Clinical Units contribute to the delivery of high-quality learning experiences throughout the MD Program including classroom-based instruction led by world-renowned academics and clinicians, clinical masterclasses, and immersions.
Year 1 students will spend the majority of their time on St Lucia campus and will be supported by the academic and professional staff within the MD Learning Hub.
The Children’s Health Queensland and General Practice Clinical Units play a pivotal role in supporting student learning within the Greater Brisbane Clinical School.