For nearly 20 years James Cook University (JCU) has been calling on people like yourself to assist us in selecting the future medical workforce for regional, rural and remote Australia, and that time has come again. Regional, rural and remote communities suffer from poorer health outcomes than their metropolitan counterparts, and have less access to healthcare.  The need in these communities for high quality, affordable healthcare as close to home as possible, requires a broadly-skilled medical workforce that is prepared to live in and serve those communities.  

JCU is Australia’s most successful university in producing medical graduates who go on to serve regional and rural communities.  This success is in part due to JCU’s unique approach to selecting students for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.  

JCU’s focus is to recruit students who are from regional, rural and Indigenous communities or have an interest in ‘going rural’. The program is regionally-based, focuses on priority community needs and collaborative partnerships.  

Selection into our program is based on a written application, consideration of the applicant’s year 12 score or results from further study, and an interview.  This process ensures we are selecting the right applicants who are more likely to work in the communities that need them most. 

As part of the interview process we invite approximately 900 applicants for a face-to-face interview with a three person panel.  Each panel consists of a JCU staff member, a clinician, and a community member. This year interviews will be held from 1 to 10 December 2020 and on 4 & 5 January 2021. Interested volunteers will be trained in September 2020.  Interested volunteers, please visit this webpage to create a profile and select your availability.

This year, due to COVID-19, training sessions and interviews will be conducted online via zoom. This will be a challenging event to co-ordinate, so we appreciate your patience as we adapt our process to accommodate these circumstances. 

In order to be able to participate this year you will need the following:

• A computer, laptop, IPad, etc.
• An internet connection – broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
• A webcam or HD webcam - built-in or USB plug-in
• Speakers and a microphone – built-in or USB plug-in or wireless Bluetooth
• A quiet private room with no interruptions.

Greater detail about system requirements can be found here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-requirements-for-Windows-macOS-and-Linux 

JCU also provides a selection pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, which consist of an interview panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members. These interviews will take place online on 2 and 8 December 2020. Any interested Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander volunteer, please register via this form https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=6MSoMM0eFE-Amfc0gqetwHzAnBpdR2xImhBzb-Gjs9BUMTUzNDQwNzc5RzRWWkI0NDVFVzQ0VkY5Ty4u

We welcome any interested clinicians or community members to aid in the selection of the future medical workforce for northern Queensland.  Interested volunteers, please click here to create a profile and select your availability.

For more information please contact the Administration Officer on 07 4781 5025 or email: med.interviewers@jcu.edu.au.