Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) has kicked off 2026 by welcoming a vibrant new cohort of graduate nurses, ready to begin their healthcare careers across Mackay Base Hospital and regional facilities.
Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery James Williams Jenkins said 67 newly qualified nurses have been recruited to the 2026 Mackay HHS Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program.
The two cohorts are comprised of 36 new nurses in February and 26 graduates welcomed to the Mackay HHS in March.
“We are delighted to welcome our large annual cohort of graduate nurses to the health service where they will consolidate and further develop the clinical skills they learned at university,” Mr Jenkins said.
The Mackay HHS Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program is twelve months in duration across Mackay Base Hospital and rural hospitals.
“Graduate nurses undertake placements across any of the 25 clinical areas in the Base Hospital including mental health, emergency, renal, medical, cardiac, surgical, oncology and theatres, as well as across our rural facilities,” Mr Jenkins said.
Fifteen nurse graduates are undertaking rural placement across the Mackay HHS at facilities including Proserpine, Clermont, Bowen, Sarina and Dysart and there are two midwifery graduates in the program in 2026.
“They will be supported with mentoring, theoretical and clinical guidance to ensure we build safe, confident and competent nurses,” Mr Jenkins said.
“Most graduates studied at CQUniversity and James Cook University and many are from the Mackay region.
“We are also pleased to welcome nursing graduates from other parts of Queensland and New South Wales as well as New Zealand.”
Mackay HHS continues to support graduate registered nurses after their first year of professional practise with excellent retention rates, Mr Jenkins said.
Hayley Borg, Jessica Treyvaud and Alex Robinson
Group pic - Mackay Hospital and Health Service has welcomed 67 new graduate nurses to its 2026 Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program, providing placements across Mackay Base Hospital and rural facilities to build skills, confidence, and support local and regional healthcare. Photos supplied
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