JCU Medicine students move into new home in Cairns

A new chapter of James Cook University’s (JCU’s) Medicine program began in Cairns this week as fourth-year students reported to The Yeinie Building in the heart of the CBD.

While staff moved into JCU’s state-of-the-art facility late last year, this week marks the first time medicine students will be taught in the building, the new home for JCU health disciplines in Cairns.

A total of 76 fourth-year students have commenced their study at The Yeinie Building this week, 41 coming from Townsville and 35 who have completed all their studies to date in Cairns.

As this week’s programmes prepare students to go out on crucial six-week clinical rotations and placements across northern Queensland, JCU’s Head of Clinical School (Cairns) Dr Aileen Traves said it was an exciting time for the University and for the health workforce in Far North Queensland.

“We are excited to start this next chapter for our JCU doctors in training,” Dr Traves said.

“While JCU have been training our senior medical students in the region since 2004, this will be our first cohort to be able to complete all six years of their degree in Cairns.

“Having the new building near the Cairns Hospital allows us to continue strengthening our partnership with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) and we know many of our graduate doctors will continue to choose to live and work in the Cairns region after graduation.

“We also look forward to working with other health professionals, in particular our nursing and midwifery colleagues.”

The facility will welcome latter year (years four–six) medical students, as well as serving as a home for students from other health disciplines who are undertaking clinical training placements at the Cairns Hospital.

It boasts eight rooms for clinical teaching, a two-bed demonstration ward set up for medical clinical skills demonstrations and a 10-bed hospital ward, along with multipurpose teaching rooms, lecture spaces and desks for 50 staff.

The Yeinie Building, gifted the name by Gimuy Walubara Yidinji Country elders, is located alongside Cairns Hospital, keeping students closer to clinical services where they undertake professional placements.

JCU Medicine’s new home in Cairns will support the education and clinical training of students across the broader CHHHS footprint, while also being a home to research and innovation between the two parties.

JCU College of Medicine and Dentistry Dean Professor Sarah Larkins said she was excited for this partnership, and how it will translate to improved health outcomes for regional and remote communities in northern Australia.

“We are very pleased to see The Yeinie Building hosting multidisciplinary health training next to the Cairns Hospital,” she said.

“The Yeinie Building, now buzzing with JCU health students and staff, is the first stage in the developing CHHHS-led Far North Queensland Health and Innovation Precinct.

“JCU looks forward to continuing partnerships with all health services across northern Queensland as we produce a fit-for-purpose health workforce and continually improving learning health systems for the communities we serve.”