Mackay region
Quicklinks
Mackay is the perfect place for a fulfilling medical career in a region rich in lifestyle attractions.
Training in the Mackay region
The diverse case mix at Mackay Base Hospital lays a broad, deep foundation on which to base specialisation.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS) consists of eight hospitals and four community health facilities. Covering a population of 180,000, MHHS includes the communities of Airlie Beach, Collinsville, Bowen, Dysart, Moranbah, Proserpine and Sarina. The Mackay Base Hospital is the referral hospital for the Mackay region.
Mackay Hospitals
Mackay Base Hospital
Mackay Base Hospital is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with leading-edge technology. Mackay Base Hospital has accredited basic and advanced training positions across multiple disciplines.
The Mater Mackay
The Mater Mackay is a 105-bed Catholic Healthcare facility operated in the Mercy tradition. Specialties include Oncology, Medical, Surgical, Obstetric, Coronary Care, Palliative care and pathology. The Mater Mackay participates in the Commonwealth Medical Intern Program.
Other private clinics include Mackay Rehabilitation Hospital and Vision Eye Institute.
Research facilities
Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation
Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation (MIRI) facilitates research and drives innovation for the delivery of evidence and value-based, patient-centred care across MHHS. MIRI supports clinical trials and is active in the new TeleTrial concept involving regional and rural hospital and health services in northern Queensland.
Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre
Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC) is a collaboration between northern Queensland’s five hospital and health services, the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine. Through an emphasis on translational research, the TAAHC partnership is designed to enhance collective capability in health service delivery, health and medical research and workforce development.
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) has a key node in Mackay. AITHM’s research focuses on diseases of high burden in the Tropics, Tropical Health Security and Tropical Health Systems.
Incentives
- Reasonable relocation costs will be reimbursed by Mackay Hospital and Health Service up to the value of $2500
- Four weeks’ free hospital accommodation is provided, or an accommodation allowance of $200 per week for up to four weeks where accommodation is found by the individual
- Inaccessibility Allowance for Clermont, Collinsville, Dysart and Middlemount of $34,500 per year (50% paid after 6 months, 25% paid in 3-monthly instalments thereafter). Moranbah $27,600 per year; Bowen and Emerald $20,700 per year; Proserpine and Sarina $13,800 per year (100% paid after 12 months, 25% paid in 3 monthly instalments thereafter).
- SMOs receive an additional 10% of their base salary as a Regional and Rural Attraction Allowance for working in Mackay HHS
More details
Specialties in the Mackay region
| Specialty | Training times | |
| Psychiatry |
All training may be completed in Mackay except for some elective rotations which are available in Townsville or Cairns. |
Map your career Psychiatry |
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General Paediatrics – Basic Training |
Can complete 12 months max training in Mackay but must then rotate to other site/s to complete training. | Map your career in General Paediatrics |
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Advanced Paediatrics |
Can complete 12 months non-core training and 24 months max core training in Mackay but must rotate to Townsville or QLD Children’s hospital to complete other required rotations. |
Map your career in Advanced Paediatrics |
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Adult Internal Medicine – Basic Training |
Can complete 24 months training in Mackay but must rotate to a Level 3 Teaching Hospital for 12 months, e.g. RBWH. |
Map your career in Adult Internal Medicine |
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Advanced Adult Internal Medicine |
Max 12 months training (core or non-core) can be completed in Mackay, additional 24months must be completed elsewhere, e.g. Townsville. |
Map your career in Advanced Adult Internal Medicine |
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Medicine sub-specialties: |
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Cardiology |
Max 12 months advanced core training available in Mackay |
Map your career in Cardiology |
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Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
All 42 months min core training can be completed in Mackay (BCERTA Occupational and Sports Medicine Clinic, Harbour Road Medical and Sonic HealthPlus. It is strongly advised to complete this training period at more than one site. |
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Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
On hold for Mackay currently (previously can complete 5 years training in Mackay with a 12-month rotation to Mater Mothers in Brisbane). |
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Emergency Medicine |
12 months (full) Provisional training and 12 months max of advanced training can be completed in Mackay, rotation required to other sites to complete additional 36 months advanced training, e.g Townsville |
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General Surgery |
24 months training available (12 months basic, 12 months advanced) in Mackay, additional 36 months subspecialty/advance training to be completed at other rotation sites |
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Orthopaedic Surgery |
60 months for the full program, 12 months available in Mackay, rotate to alternative sites for remaining 48 months. |
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Neurosurgery |
12months basic training available in Mackay, rotate to alternative sites for remaining 48 months. |
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Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery |
12months basic training available in Mackay, rotate to alternative sites for remaining 48 months. |
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Paediatric Surgery |
12 months basic training available in Mackay, rotate to alternative sites for remaining 72 months. |
Map your career in Paediatric Surgery |
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Anaesthesia |
24 months training available in Mackay across Introductory Training, Basic Training and Advanced Training (12 months) and Provisional Fellowship Training (12 months). Rotation to other sites, e.g. Townsville, Cairns, to complete the remaining 36 months. |
Map your career in Anaesthesia |
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Intensive Care Medicine |
42 months training available in Mackay, additional 30 months must be undertaken at an alternative site e.g. Townsville, Cairns. |
Map your career in Intensive Care Medicine |
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Clinical Radiology |
Some training components available in Mackay, remainder of training to be completed at other linked sites with RBWH as the fully accredited site in the rotation. |
Map your career in Clinical Radiology |
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Rural Generalist |
Full training program available in Mackay, some advanced skills training not available |
Map your career in Rural Generalism |
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General Practice |
Full training program available in Mackay, some advanced skills training not available |
Map your career in General Practice |
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Cardiothoracic Surgery |
12 mths basic training available in Mackay, rotate to alternative sites for remaining 60 mths. |
Map your career in Cardiothoracic Surgery |
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An intern year of opportunity
For many future doctors, the idea of their intern year is nothing short of daunting. But for Dr Gia Cavalieri interning at Mackay and Proserpine hospitals in north Queensland was an overwhelmingly positive experience, one that helped her grow and flourish as a doctor.
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Gaining specialist skills for communities in need
For Dr Pradeesha Hettiarachchi, the chance to make a difference and give back to the north Queensland community is one of the biggest drivers of his career.
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Gamble into the unknown provides great dividends
Dr Kay Mbalamweshi’s move from Sydney to Mackay in North Queensland was somewhat of a gamble into the unknown but one that has certainly paid off some great dividends.
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Interning in Mackay, the ‘gold nugget’ of Queensland
When it came to applying for intern medical positions, Shawn Steckle and his partner knew they’d have to cast the net far and wide.
Living in Mackay
From beaches to rainforests, family-friendly Mackay boasts idyllic natural settings and an unhurried pace of life.
Sugarcane farming, cattle grazing, mining and tourism are the key industries underpinning the economy of the Mackay region, which is home to Australia’s largest population of South Sea Islanders.
Mackay has excellent public and private schools and a full range of leisure and sporting activities, including golf, water skiing, snorkelling and diving.
A two-hour drive north of Mackay, Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsundays, which is made up of 74 Island wonders in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Whether it be sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, scenic flights, snorkelling, scuba diving, 4WD tours, mountain biking, bushwalking, golfing, camping or relaxation, Airlie Beach has something for everyone.
In the Mackay hinterland, explore an ancient rainforest in the Finch Hatton Gorge where you can take a walk or zipline through the treetops and experience a landscape of waterfalls, lush flora and volcanic boulder formations.
Dense rainforest and volcanic rock formations meet the ocean at Cape Hillsborough National Park, about 50km north of Mackay. Eastern grey kangaroos and wallabies fossick for seedpods and seaweed in the tide during the spectacular Cape Hillsborough sunrise.
Residents of Sarina, 36km south of Mackay, enjoy a coastal lifestyle within a rural setting, with beautiful beaches, scenic mountain ranges, fishing and prawning. Mackay is a service centre for a mining workforce in towns including Moranbah, Dysart and Clermont. Just an 80-minute flight from Cairns, it has a well-connected airport.
Training in Mackay
“I have found the supervisors in the Medical Education Unit to be extremely approachable. You're always being encouraged to learn more and to make the next step. You feel safe to practice what you can because you know that they are nearby and ready to help you. You also have the opportunity to really get to know your consultant and your registrar and they also get to really know you, which helps to set the foundation for trust. You are then able to gain better exposure and experience through that trust.”
Dr Shivam Khanna on training in Mackay
We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the Australian lands and waters where our staff and students live, learn and work. We honour the unique cultural and spiritual relationship to the land, waters and seas of First Australian peoples and their continuing and rich contribution to James Cook University (JCU) and Australian society. We also pay respect to ancestors and Elders past, present and future.
NQRTH is an initiative of the Australian Government's Integrated Rural Training Pipeline (IRTP) and is facilitated by James Cook University in partnership with public and private hospitals, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), health services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and GP clinics.
Cairns region
(07) 4226 8187
Central West region
(07) 4764 1547
Mackay region
(07) 4885 7122
North West region
(07) 4764 1547
Torres and Cape region
(07) 4095 6103
Townsville region
(07) 4781 3424