James Cook University (JCU) is calling on your support to assist with selecting the future medical workforce for regional, rural and remote Australia. For over 20 years JCU has been calling on health professionals and members of the community to volunteer to interview prospective students for their Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.  

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

Selection into the 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 JCU is selecting the right applicants who are more likely to work in the communities that need them most. As part of the interview process, the university invites up to 900 applicants from across Australia and New Zealand to an interview. Each interview panel usually consists of a JCU staff member, a clinician, and a community member.   

This year, interviews will be held from 30 November to 9 December 2021 and 4 January to 5 January 2022. Interested volunteers will be trained in September 2021. Volunteers will be placed on panels according to their selected availability, and the university will try to spread these out across all volunteers. To avoid significant impacts of Covid-19, training sessions and interviews will be conducted online via Zoom.   

In order to participate this year, volunteers 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 where you won't be interrupted

Greater detail about system requirements can be found here. Prior to interviews, the university will hold sessions where you can call in to test your equipment with their IT support team.  

JCU also provides a selection pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, which consists of an interview panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members. This year’s interviews for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants will be held via Zoom on 1 December and 7 December 2021. 

Register here if you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander wanting to participate on the interview panel for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. JCU is also calling for your support in promoting interviews for the 2022 intake. The university welcomes any interested clinicians, health professionals or community members to aid in the selection of the future medical workforce for northern Queensland. 

New volunteers register here to create a profile and select your availability. 

Experienced volunteers register here. If you have forgotten your password just click on “Forgot Password” to reset. 

Alternatively, please contact the JCU Administration Officer on 07 4781 5025 or email med.interviewers@jcu.edu.au.