Atherton

"The Whitehouse"

Atherton is a thriving town situated on the cool tropical mountains a one hour drive west of Cairns, Port Douglas and Innisfail. Atherton is home to some of the worlds best attractions, including old heritage listed wet tropics rainforest, volcano crater lakes, many waterfalls, national parks, sample boutique wineries, distilleries and local produce. The rural landscape of Atherton Tableland has lush rolling hills where you can escape the oppressive humidity of the coast and enjoy warm summers and crisp cooler temperatures in winter.

Sporting and outdoor activities play a huge part in the life of the rural community and the Tablelands with its lakes, farming, fishing and sporting focus provide a never ending source of activity for the quality lifestyle needed to balance a busy professional schedule.

The main townships of Atherton and Mareeba have District Hospitals which service and maintain outreach clinics to outlying areas. There are over 14 private GP Practices, 3Aboriginal Medical Services and 2 Specialists permanently on the Tablelands.

James Cook University has an education facility for the School of Medicine and Dentistry based in Atherton commonly called “The Whitehouse”. This facility supports and coordinates medical students and Registrars in the GP Training Program during their placement on the Tablelands. The school is equipped with an updated lecture room facility, videoconference equipment, state of the art computers, adsl broadband access, library and clinical skills equipment. Education support is a priority of the medical and health professional staff on the Tablelands and all students, interns, registrars are welcomed, encouraged and mentored by the resident medical staff living in the area. With the help of the Tableland Regional Council there is student accommodation in Atherton and Mareeba just minutes from the District Hospitals and GP Clinics. Both student accommodation houses are fully self-contained with the student only needing to supply their own linen and any special “comforts” that they cannot do without. All elective placements on the Tablelands should be arranged through the Rural Coordinator in Atherton, (Bronwyn.stewart@jcu.edu.au) as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The region is regarded by many as one of the Norths “best kept secret” in tourism terms, but is widely becoming regarded as a popular and successful educational training region, where education and capacity building is seen as a priority for the community and the up and coming rural doctors of the future.

Who’s Who in Atherton

Dr Clare Jukka Senior Lecturer	Ms Bronwyn Stewart Rural Coordinator	Ms Pauline Kriesel Administration Officer