Andrea Muller

Program Manager, Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs

Home Town/City: Grew up in Brisbane and moved to Townsville in 2012.

Qualifications/Education:
Bachelor of Business, Accounting, QUT.

Tell us about your role:
I work with Regional Training Hubs staff and Hospitals and Health Services across the North Queensland region to promote the training opportunities available across the training continuum in this region. Our collaborative relationship with JCU and the Hospitals and Health Services allows us to support medical students and junior doctors to access unique training placements and opportunities. We support mentoring, career advice and planning, professional development and linking student groups with Registrars and Consultants.

What do you find most rewarding part of your role?
Working with professionals who are all so passionate about regional and remote health and wanting to give back to the community. The North offers such complex and unique caseloads which provides doctors and students with unparalleled learning opportunities. It is rewarding to see our students graduate, complete junior doctor years either in the region or away but then come back to complete their specialty training and become consultants in the region.

Tullita Miller

Coordinator, Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs - North West and Central West region

Home Town/City: Grew up in Rockhampton and moved to Mount Isa in 2017

Qualifications/Education:
Bachelor of Business, Marketing and Public Relations

Tell us about your role:
I am located in Mount Isa within the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health. Through the North West Hospital and Health Service, I promote the training opportunities for NQ Regional Training Hubs offer to help guide doctors through their goal career path.

What do you find is the most rewarding part of your role?
I enjoy having the opportunity to represent JCU and work collaboratively with Queensland Hospital and Health Services to make a different in rural and remote health among my local community, and all of Northern Queensland.

Jenine Bailey

Coordinator, Regional Medical Training - Mackay

Home Town/City: Brisbane. Moved to Sarina in the Mackay region in 2004.

Qualifications/Education:
Advanced Diploma of Health Science; Cert IV in Training and Education, Diploma of Business, Certificate IV in Leadership and Management, and Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management (HRM). I am currently completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a major in HRM.

I have worked in variety of roles in private (not-for-profit and profit), and local government organisations. My career focus has been in the fields of adult learning and development, workforce competency and capacity, and strategic workforce planning.

Tell us about your role:

I am based within the JCU Mackay Clinical School. My role is to support and promote the unique medical training opportunities available in North QLD with the aim to attract and retain doctors to address the workforce shortage in the region. The activities that support this goal are varied (too many to list here!) and no two days are the same which I love!

I work collaboratively with the Mackay Hospital and Health Services (MHHS), in particular, the Medical Education team to sponsor and promote education & training events as well as provide support to medical student interest groups and link them to Registrars and Consultants within the hospital. I provide information regarding medical training pathways right through the continuum from undergraduate to specialty training and connect interested people to the MHHS.

What do you find is the most rewarding part of your role?

Most people have lived experience with the health care system or will have at some time in their life. I am enthusiastic about contributing (no matter how small my part) to the vision of better health outcomes for underserved regional, rural, and remote communities. Improving access to a range of health care services for people in rural, remote, and regional areas starts with supporting our medical students and junior doctors, in understanding the many benefits that these geographical areas have to offer in terms of liveability, training opportunities, and career pathways.

I feel incredibly lucky to work with an amazing NQRTH team at JCU and MHHS, who are all impressive, highly competent and supportive, and to contribute to such a valuable program.

Rebecca Jones

Coordinator, Regional Medical Training - Townsville

Home Town/City: Originally Roma, then moved to a small-town Acland, near Toowoomba, then Townsville. 

Qualifications/Education:
I hold a Cert IV in Training and Assessing and have worked in the registered training organisation (RTO) space. My experience varies including positions in management, administration, and accounts in the healthcare and hospitality industries.

Tell us about your role:

I am based in Townsville at the JCU clinical school situated at the Townsville University Hospital. My role is to support the training continuum working with student doctors in the undergraduate program, through to fellowship, and beyond.

I have the opportunity collaborate with the Medical Education units at both the Townsville University Hospital and Mater North Queensland, along with student groups and other medical officer support groups within the region.

The role is so varied and that is why I love it. One day I can be doing admin, processing full academic title paperwork, another day I could be supporting or running events.
Some days I am working closely with revered clinical professionals as well as the next generation of doctors to support the workforce in our region. We discuss what is needed to ensure longevity of our workforce and put that into action.

What do you find is the most rewarding part of your role?

Most of my life I have always wanted a career where I feel like I am making a difference when I come to work. Coming to work to earn a wage (although necessary) doesn’t get me through the day. Although I don’t ever see myself working as a healthcare professional, if I can support doctors and support a new generation to stay in our region, I feel I have a greater purpose. The outcomes of a stronger workforce are immeasurable.

To have specialties and sub-specialties available or readily available to those in need have just a profound impact to our entire community. To see our local network and the widespread passion is inspiring. The way the most experienced doctors take their time to pass down their expertise to the next generation, and then the Junior Doctors to pass to the Medical Students, and the appreciation for that knowledge in return. It is like a complex entity of knowledge and constant learning.

Coming from a regional and rural area, I understand the impact the work of NQRTH has down the line.

Every day I learn so much from everyone around me, and I don’t ever see the learning processes ending in this role. There will always be a way to grow and assist and support.