Qld: Record internships give health system vital boost

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2006
Qld: Record internships give health system vital boost

BRISBANE, Dec 24 AAP - Record numbers of graduate medical students and nurses will
start work in Queensland public hospitals in 2007.

Premier Peter Beattie announced today that Queensland Health would provide a record
400 hospital internships in 2007 for young doctors entering the health system for the
first time.

"That's 81 more clinical training positions than the 319 internships we provided in
January 2006," Mr Beattie said.

A record 883 graduate nurses have already accepted jobs as registered nurses with Queensland
Health to start in January, and Mr Beattie said this number would rise even further as
the recruitment drive continues in the coming months.

A further 16 graduate nurses from the Queensland Health Rural Scholarship Scheme will
also start work at rural and remote hospitals in January.

Mr Beattie said the recruitment drive has been aimed at keeping interns who have studied
in Queensland from heading overseas or interstate to work.

This year, 221 of the 226 medical students who graduated from Brisbane's University
of Queensland have accepted jobs with Queensland Health, as have 66 of the 74 graduate
medical students from James Cook University in far north Queensland.

"The 400 internships we're providing ensure all those fledgling doctors have clinical
training positions under the supervision of senior doctors in our hospitals," Mr Beattie
said.

"Queensland Health also continues to work with the AMAQ (Australian Medical Association
of Queensland), medical colleges, unions and councils representing nurses and allied health
staff to improve clinical training and professional development opportunities for our
health workforce."

AAP cf/ks

KEYWORD: MEDICAL

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.