JCU: College of Medicine and Dentistry

02/09/2026

From JCU medical student to award-winning clinical educator 🩺🏆

JCU Medicine graduate Dr Anosh Shane Sivashanmugarajah has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to medical education, receiving the 2026 Northern Territory Clinical Educator of the Year Award.

The Confederation of Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC) award recognises Dr Sivashanmugarajah’s exceptional contribution to prevocational medical education and training in the Northern Territory.

Dr Sivashanmugarajah has developed a strong reputation for supporting the learning, development and wellbeing of junior doctors, while his commitment to medical education and passion for rural and remote healthcare has made a significant impact on the Northern Territory’s prevocational medical workforce.

The award caps off an outstanding year for Dr Sivashanmugarajah, who was also named the 2026 RACP Trainee of the Year earlier this year.

👉 Read more about his award-winning journey: bit.ly/4zCYFUV

As the Northern Territory award recipient, Dr Sivashanmugarajah will now represent the NT at the national CPMEC awards, with the overall winner from across Australia and New Zealand to be announced in November.

His commitment to teaching startedat JCU. During his years as an intern, resident medical officer and medical registrar, he returned to the University to deliver education sessions to medical students, continuing a passion for teaching and mentoring that has remained central to his career.

“Teaching and mentoring is going to be integral to my practice in the future,” he says.

Congratulations, Dr Sivashanmugarajah, on this well-deserved recognition. We're proud to see JCU Medicine graduates making such a positive impact on the next generation of doctors!

01/09/2026

🩺Pharmacists considering advanced practice training: this could be the time to take the next step.

JCU Head of Pharmacy Associate Professor John Smithson says advanced training is helping pharmacists build on the skills and expertise they already bring to their communities.

“We’ve given them the skills they need to go back into their communities and deliver these services.”

JCU’s Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists develops practical skills for real patient consultations, from history taking and physical examination to clinical reasoning, diagnosis, prescribing and referral.

For Cairns prescribing community pharmacist and JCU course trainer Demi Pressley, the practical nature of her training made the difference.

"Having these skills means you’re prepared to manage real cases in the community. I’m now able to help patients with conditions I couldn’t before, and it’s been so rewarding to put these skills to use."

The next intake begins in Trimester 3, 2026, with teaching commencing September 14.

Limited Government subsidised places are still available to eligible pharmacists until funding is exhausted.

Starting this September also means students can complete their final subject by September 2027, leaving the busy Christmas and summer pharmacy period free from coursework and assessments.

For pharmacists thinking about expanding their practice, it could be a timely opportunity to take the next step.

Explore the course at JCU 👉 https://www.jcu.edu.au/courses/graduate-certificate-of-advanced-practice-and-prescribing-for-pharmacists

28/08/2026

Think biomedicine could be an interesting career path for you? 🔬

JCU now offers the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences – Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine, a unique joint degree that can be completed in less than four years.

The course combines a strong foundation in biomedical science with professional laboratory medicine training, preparing graduates for careers as medical laboratory scientists while also providing the flexibility to pursue further study and a range of health-related professions.

Students develop important laboratory skills from the very beginning, including learning to work with the microscope through histology.

🔎 Find out how JCU’s academic team is ensuring students develop advanced microscope skills from the start:

https://www.jcu.edu.au/this-is-uni/health-and-medicine/articles/biomed-under-the-microscope

Explore the new joint degree:
https://www.jcu.edu.au/courses/bachelor-of-biomedical-sciences-bachelor-of-laboratory-medicine

27/08/2026

Expanding your scope can mean expanding the ways you can support your patients. 🩺

For Cairns prescribing community pharmacist and JCU course trainer Demi Pressley, the practical skills she gained through advanced training have made a real difference to her practice.

“What makes the course exceptional is how hands-on it is. We didn’t just learn theory, we practised physical assessments.”

JCU’s Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists has a strong practical and clinical focus, building skills in patient assessment, clinical reasoning, physical examination, diagnosis, prescribing, management planning and referral.

For pharmacists considering taking that next step, JCU's next intake starts soon, with teaching commencing September 14.

Limited Government subsidised places are still available to eligible pharmacists until funding is exhausted.

And there’s a practical advantage to starting now. Begin in Trimester 3, 2026 and you can complete your final subject by September 2027 before the busy end-of-year period in community pharmacy.

Find out more about the course and subsidy👇

Upskill as a community pharmacist with an additional qualification that equips you to prescribe some medication and provide additional healthcare support.

26/08/2026

🚶‍♀️ Ready to step into September? 🚶‍♂️

This September, MIGA is inviting doctors to prioritise their own health and wellbeing by joining its Steptember team.

Between study, placements, training and clinical practice, looking after your own wellbeing can easily slip down the list. Steptember is a great reminder that even small amounts of movement throughout the day can add up.

Walk between wards, take the stairs, head outside for a break or choose from more than 40 physical activities and track your movement throughout September.

As well as supporting your physical and mental wellbeing, every step helps raise funds and awareness for children and families impacted by cerebral palsy. 💙

You can also enjoy some friendly competition along the way, with prizes for the best individual stepper and best stepping team.

Already a MIGA member?
👉 Join the MIGA Steptember team: https://www.steptember.org.au/register/au-26

Not a MIGA member?
👉 Find out how to join in: https://www.miga.com.au/steptember

26/08/2026

Help shape the future of medicine at JCU 💙

What does it take to select the next generation of doctors? It takes people from across our community who are willing to share their time, experience and perspective.

The JCU College of Medicine and Dentistry is calling for community members, health professionals and JCU staff to volunteer as interviewers for our 2027 Medicine Selections Interviews. As an interviewer, you will help select the students who will be offered a place in the JCU Medicine degree in 2027.

📅 Interview dates: 24 November to 1 December 2026 and 6 to 7 January 2027; JCU also provides an Indigenous Selection Pathway to Medicine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants with an interview panel made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members. These interviews take place on 26th November and the 2nd and 3rd of December.

💻 All interviews are conducted online, so you can participate from home or any location with a private space. Our JCU Selections team will also be on hand to assist and provide technical advice if needed.

⏰ The time commitment is flexible. Training is self-paced and takes approximately three hours over a few months. Interview sessions run from 8am to 12pm and 1 to 5pm, and you can nominate for as many sessions as your availability allows.

We have designed the process to be straightforward and supportive, ensuring your experience as a volunteer is both rewarding and meaningful.

Could you help us choose the doctors of tomorrow?

👉 Sign up to volunteer: bit.ly/JCUmed-select27

25/08/2026

🌟 Help us celebrate the incredible achievements of our JCU Pharmacy alumni!

Do you know a JCU Pharmacy graduate who is making a real difference through their leadership, innovation, research, advocacy, professional practice, or service to their community?

Applications and nominations are now open for the Emeritus Professor Beverley Glass Legacy Award for Distinguished Impact.

This special award recognises JCU Pharmacy alumni whose dedication, excellence, and positive impact are shaping the future of the pharmacy profession and inspiring those around them.

Whether you're nominating a deserving colleague or putting yourself forward, we'd love to hear from you.

🏆 The inaugural recipient will be recognised at the 2026 JCU Pharmacy Welcome to the Profession and Awards Night on 15 October 2026.
📅 Applications and nominations close 28 September 2026.

Submit your application or nomination via the link below, and visit the JCU Prizes website for eligibility and further information.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with fellow JCU Pharmacy graduates. Together, let's celebrate the people who continue to make a lasting impact on our profession and our communities.

👉https://www.jcu.edu.au/jcu-prizes/browse-all-prizes/prizes-d-g/EMPRO-Beverley-Glass-Legacy-Award/application-form

25/08/2026

Guests were treated to an informative and engaging evening last week, with Dr Marianne Gale delivering the annual Rick Speare Oration.

Dr Gale, Queensland Health’s Chief Health Officer, spoke about her formative years as a doctor working with Médecins Sans Frontières in challenging third world environments, caring for patients suffering from complex and often deadly diseases, including tuberculosis and HIV.

She also worked in Niger, where she witnessed the heartbreak of childhood malnutrition while operating in a challenging climatic and political environment.

Her work with Médecins Sans Frontières gave Dr Gale valuable insight into health systems and the many other systems that work alongside them to create a functioning health system.

Leadership roles with NSW Health, and now Queensland Health, followed, with Dr Gale now relishing the opportunity to play a direct role in improving Queensland’s health system.

Dr Gale also outlined some of the key public health challenges of our time, including natural disasters and their ongoing effects, animal-borne diseases, and the challenges posed by health misinformation spread by influencers. Thank you to all who attended this successful event!

You can listen to Dr Gale’s lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J8PvFNnE6E&feature=youtu.be

21/08/2026

🎧 New NQRTH Round Up Podcast Episode Out Now!
Bonus episode | Beyond the Complaint: The Impact of AHPRA Investigations
👉 https://bit.ly/3SJAX8P

Being reported can be one of the most confronting experiences in a doctor's career. Recorded following Dr Catriona Arnold-Nott’s incredibly popular presentation at Rural Doctors Association of Queensland - RDAQ conference , this special bonus episode of Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs The Round Up sees host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speak with Dr Arnold-Nott about her personal experience of being reported to AHPRA and the emotional impact of navigating a formal investigation

Dr Arnold-Nott shares what it feels like to suddenly find yourself on the other side of the healthcare system, dealing with uncertainty, fear and a loss of control while continuing to work and care for patients. She discusses the difference between everyday complaints and formal investigations, the importance of seeking support early, and the role of medical defence organisations and mental health professionals.

Whether you have faced a formal complaint, support colleagues who have, or simply want to understand more about the process, this episode offers an honest and practical perspective on an experience that can have a profound impact on a doctor's professional and personal life.

20/08/2026

🌾 From cannulas to dinosaur races – rural placements offer experiences you'll never forget.

When fourth-year JCU medical student Jono arrived in Longreach for his rural placement, he expected to learn new clinical skills.

What he didn't expect was to become the "go-to" student for cannulas, assist in cataract surgeries, care for patients in the Emergency Department, and finish his placement as Queensland's third-fastest inflatable dinosaur! 🦖

Beyond the hands-on learning, it was the people and the strong sense of community that left the biggest impression.

"The people in Longreach were some of the friendliest I've ever met, and the strong sense of community made the placement even more special," Jono said.

His experience has inspired him to continue his rural journey, with a 12-week placement in Mount Isa already on the horizon next year.

A huge thank you to our incredible supervisors, clinicians and the welcoming Central West Queensland community for providing such valuable learning experiences and helping inspire the next generation of rural doctors.

📖 Read Jono's story here: https://www.crrh.jcu.edu.au/news-events/articles-radio-tv-interviews/test-fvef8e/