With the recent Senate Inquiry into GP shortages in regional Queensland, Dawson’s Labor Candidate, Shane Hamilton, is throwing his full support behind addressing the issue in Mackay through James Cook University (JCU).
Meeting on Thursday with Dr Elissa Hatherly, Mackay Clinical School Head at James Cook University (JCU), Mr Hamilton heard the concerns facing the Sugar City’s hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals.
Mr Hamilton said that JCU is investing in three key areas to sustain and build a lasting health workforce for the communities of the Mackay region and supporting them was pivotal.
“JCU is well known for its success in taking kids from regional communities, giving them a great educational experience, with positive rural experiences and fantastic mentors, that inspire graduating health professionals to want to stay in the region,” Mr Hamilton said.
“It makes sense to back a local provider that is delivering strong results for our community.”
This past week, 18 doctors commenced training with JCU to become GPs in the Mackay region.
“From what I have been told, that is a 17 per cent increase of GP trainees in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday regions,” Mr Hamilton said.
The University is seeking to expand the delivery of its Medical School program in Mackay and Cairns with a minimum 80 additional trainees commencing Commonwealth supported places (CSPs).
“North Queensland has really struggled for many years; we are under servicing, we have far fewer doctors in northern Queensland than our southeast corner counterparts,” Dr Hatherly said.
“Increasing the number of GP training program pathway positions here in Mackay and across northern Queensland is incredibly important.
“We have proven to deliver high quality general practice training and are well prepared to do that in greater numbers.”
Dr Hatherly said that, if these GP numbers aren’t met, workforce pressures will be exacerbated, and COVID has already highlighted the stress the system could experience in 10 to 15 years’ time.
“We need to be training people here to have them stay here,” Dr Hatherly said.
Mr Hamilton said that GP training needs to meet Queensland’s needs, including continued funding for JCU to deliver the College-led GP training across regional Queensland.
“I 100 per cent support the outcomes of the senate inquiry which should and will support the need for more GPs and more doctors in regional Queensland,” Mr Hamilton said.
“Programs like the JCU are running allows doctors to be trained here, and will imbed them to stay here, have a career, have a life in the towns they’ve come to know.”
On the same day, The Honourable Dr David Gillespie MP, Minister for Regional Health announced the Federal Liberals and Nationals Government would invest $2 million over two years to the University of Queensland to expand allied health student training in St George in rural Queensland.
Dr Gillespie agreed with Mr Hamilton’s assessment that training a GP in a regional setting inclines them to stay there.
“There is growing evidence that students who have a positive and rewarding extended training experience in a rural area are more likely to take up rural practice upon graduation,” Dr Gillespie said.
The Coalition Government has stated that investing in and supporting high-quality rural health training is a proven and effective way to address gaps in the rural and remote health workforce now and in the future.
Mr Hamilton said that the current government's stance on healthcare is something that goes to show their level of awareness, with their stripping away of funding in telehealth and Medicare, and that these promises were election stunts.
“Their track history on health and healthcare speaks for itself, again we see the government getting close to election time trying to buy votes,” Mr Hamilton said.
Mr Hamilton could not promise that an investment in JCU’s priorities post-election would be “cast iron.”
“We can’t say 100 per cent that we’re there, but myself here in Dawson, John [Ring] up In Herbert, the guys up in Leichhardt, we’re all pushing this extremely hard,” Mr Hamilton said.
“It was a commitment in 2019, during that election, so I’m very confident we’ll get it over the line.”
“Increasing the number of GP training program pathway positions here in Mackay and across northern Queensland is incredibly important.”
Labor Federal Candidate Shane Hamilton and Dr Elissa Hatherly, Mackay Clinical School Head at James Cook University
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