UQ sets ambitious target to increase First Nations doctors in Central Queensland

The University of Queensland has unveiled a First Nations Growth Strategy to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors graduating and practising in regional and rural communities, with a focus on Central Queensland.

The initiative seeks to address ongoing workforce shortages and strengthen community-connected medical care.

The strategy includes a specific enrolment target: First Nations students are to comprise 15 per cent of Central Queensland enrolments in UQ’s Doctor of Medicine.

UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AC said the First Nations Growth Strategy is intended to accelerate the supply of medical graduates in Central Queensland communities experiencing shortages.

She underlined the institution’s commitment to meeting a clearly identified workforce need for First Nations clinicians and described the strategy as part of the University’s Queensland Commitment, co-designed with First Nations Elders and Bidgerdii Community Health Service.

Key Points

“This strategy is a vehicle for change and has been co-designed with First Nations Elders in partnership with Bidgerdii Community Health Service to deliver on this as part of the University’s Queensland Commitment.” Prof. Terry said.

“We are deeply committed to ensuring more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors graduate through the program to address the very real workforce need for First Nations clinicians.”

“This strategy is a vehicle for change”

— Professor Deborah Terry

Strategy and targets

The First Nations Growth Strategy sets a formal benchmark: 15 per cent of Central Queensland enrolments in the University of Queensland’s Doctor of Medicine are to be First Nations students.

According to the University, the target is designed to help relieve shortages and build a pipeline of local medical practitioners with enduring ties to the region. The approach explicitly prioritises recruitment, retention and graduation of First Nations medical students and aligns with an end-to-end pathway that begins in local communities and extends through to post-graduation support.

Community-led design and partnerships

The strategy has been co-designed with First Nations Elders in partnership with Bidgerdii Community Health Service, described as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled primary health care service.

The University stated that local community perspectives were central in the development of the plan, which was signed off by 14 community Elders to ensure cultural appropriateness and community ownership.

“It’s this collaboration that will ensure its success.”

— Professor Thelma Parker

Professor Riitta Partanen, Director of UQ Medical School’s Rural Clinical School, said the strategy was intended to establish a locally centred, Indigenous-led focus that spans recruitment through to graduation and beyond.

The design emphasises an “end-to-end pathway,” ensuring students are supported before they begin, while they study, and after they complete their degrees.

The growth strategy specifies support from the application phase and entry requirements for Central Queensland University’s Bachelor of Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine) and UQ’s Doctor of Medicine, through to graduation and post-graduation transitions.

The goal, as outlined by the University, is to enable students to train and work in their local communities with sustained, culturally informed support structures in place.

Indigenous leadership

Associate Dean (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Thelma Parker said the strategy was centred on unlocking growth for Indigenous doctors through community centred partnerships.

She highlighted that the plan was led by the UQ-developed Wisdom Council for Indigenous Knowledges alongside Bidgerdii Community Health Service. According to Professor Parker, the process deliberately centred local community perspectives and received endorsement from 14 community Elders to ensure the approach is fully culturally appropriate and owned by the community.

She emphasised the importance of collaboration as work continues towards closing the gap and ensuring communities are aware of pathways into medicine and opportunities to study and work locally.

Funding and enrolments

The University of Queensland reported that in 2023 it successfully applied for funding to support 10 additional Commonwealth-funded places in Central Queensland in the Doctor of Medicine program.

The University stated that the 15 per cent First Nations enrolment target formed part of the agreement for those additional places. The growth strategy is presented as the mechanism to meet this commitment, embedding support across the academic journey and aligning with regional workforce objectives.