Doctors in training

Start your medical career in North Queensland

Kickstart your career with Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS), where doctors in training gain hands‑on experience, strong clinical foundations and the support needed to thrive during this formative stage.

As home to Townsville University Hospital - the region's major tertiary referral centre and the largest teaching hospital in northern Australia - you'll access a depth and breadth of clinical experience rarely found in metropolitan settings.

Why train with us?

More experience

Build your capability across 35+ general and specialty areas, including ICU, radiology, cancer care, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and more developing a broad and well‑supported clinical skillset.

More learning

Work alongside experienced clinicians, educators and specialists who are committed to teaching, mentorship and supervision at every stage of your training.

More opportunity

Explore rotations across tertiary, rural and remote settings - gaining exposure to diverse presentations, including tropical and First Nations health.

More support

Benefit from structured education programs, supervision frameworks and wellbeing support designed to help you succeed as a doctor in training.

Where you'll train

Townsville HHS delivers care across more than 20 facilities, including tertiary, rural and remote locations.

Training includes exposure to:

• High-acuity tertiary hospital environments
• Rural and remote placements
• Community and outpatient settings
• Telehealth services supporting North Queensland

What we offer

• Experience in a major tertiary referral hospital
• Rotations across rural and remote health services
• Exposure to tropical and First Nations medicine
• Structured education, training and supervision
• Research and professional development opportunities
• Access to clinical skills and simulation centres
• Medical library and learning resources
• Competitive remuneration and benefits
• Employee wellbeing support including Employee Assistance Program
• Professional indemnity cover

Training pathways

Townsville HHS supports doctors at every stage of their journey:

Undergraduate placements

Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) supports the next generation of medical professionals through structured clinical placement opportunities for Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery students.

Clinical placements are integrated within university programs and delivered in partnership with participating medical schools, providing students with high‑quality, supervised clinical experience throughout their degree.

Why undertake your placement with us?

More experience

Gain exposure to a major tertiary referral hospital alongside opportunities in regional, rural and remote settings.

More learning

Work alongside experienced clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, building practical skills and applying classroom knowledge in real clinical environments.

More opportunity

Experience diverse patient presentations, including tropical and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, not typically available in metropolitan placements.

More support

Benefit from structured supervision, teaching and a supportive learning environment designed to help you build confidence and capability.

Placement structure

• Placements are coordinated through university-led undergraduate programs
• Students rotate through a range of clinical disciplines and settings
• Learning aligns with medical school curriculum and accreditation requirements

Where your placement can take you

Students may complete placements across:

• Townsville University Hospital (tertiary setting)
• Regional and rural hospitals
• Community and outpatient services

This provides a broad and immersive learning experience across the continuum of care.

Find out more

For placement enquiries, please contact your university program coordinator.

Medical intern program

Our intern program provides supported, hands‑on clinical experience aligned with Queensland Health training pathways, enabling safe transition into medical practice.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) offers a comprehensive medical intern program designed to support your transition from medical student to confident, capable clinician.

As part of Queensland's centralised intern recruitment pathway, all intern applications are submitted through the statewide Queensland Health intern portal.

Why complete your internship with us?

More experience

Gain hands‑on clinical experience across a major tertiary referral hospital and a diverse regional health service, building strong foundations in patient‑centred care.

More exposure

Rotate through a wide range of specialties, with opportunities to experience:

• General medicine and surgery
• Emergency medicine
• Mental health
• Subspecialty services (e.g. cardiology, oncology, neurology)
• Rural and remote medicine across North Queensland

Our program offers exposure to tropical medicine and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, providing experience not typically available in metropolitan settings.

More opportunity

Despite being a regional health service, interns access specialty areas and clinical experiences comparable to large metropolitan hospitals, supported by a high‑acuity tertiary environment.

More support

Interns are supported through structured supervision, education programs and access to senior clinicians committed to teaching and mentorship.

Program structure

Interns complete rotations across a range of accredited terms aligned with Queensland training requirements. Rotations include a combination of core and elective terms designed to support different career interests and pathways.

Rotations may include:

• Emergency medicine
• General medicine and subspecialties
• General surgery and subspecialties
• Mental health (inpatient and community)
• Paediatrics
• Obstetrics and gynaecology
• Anaesthetics
• Rural and community placements (e.g. Ingham, Ayr, Charters Towers, Palm Island)

Some rotations are grouped into streams to support career pathways such as:

• Physician training
• Surgical training
• Paediatrics
• Anaesthetics
• Obstetrics and gynaecology

Rural and regional experience

Interns may undertake placements in rural and regional facilities, gaining valuable exposure to:

• Broader scope of practice
• Diverse patient presentations
• Community-based care

This experience strengthens clinical decision-making and builds confidence early in your career.

Indigenous Intern Pathway

Townsville HHS is committed to growing a culturally capable workforce and offers an Indigenous Intern Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical graduates.

Intern recruitment

• Applications are submitted via the Queensland Health centralised intern recruitment system
• Recruitment aligns with statewide campaigns and timelines
• Internships are typically offered to eligible medical graduates in accredited positions

Learn how to apply

Find out more

To learn more about internship opportunities at Townsville HHS:

Phone: (07) 4433 1056

Email: {"ct":"9qDtY18FZ076I8uvcW\/KbYyouEgpYxmVdsSX9l9qUh0=","iv":"8b23ae252d02db4370b41aca136cd502","s":"a96c2a0b7437d844"}

Doctors in training roles

Junior House Officers, Senior House Officers, Principal House Officers, Registrars and Provisional Fellows

Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) supports doctors in training through structured education programs designed to build confidence, capability and clinical excellence at every stage of your career.

Our programs combine hands‑on clinical experience with formal education and supervision, helping you transition from medical graduate to independent practitioner while delivering safe, high‑quality patient care.

Why train with us?

More experience

Develop your skills across a high‑acuity tertiary referral centre, with opportunities to work across multiple specialties and clinical environments.

More learning

Benefit from structured education, clinical supervision and mentorship from experienced consultants and senior clinicians.

More opportunity

Access accredited training positions across a wide range of specialties, supporting multiple career pathways including physician, surgical and generalist streams.

More support

Receive professional, clinical and wellbeing support throughout your training, in an environment focused on safe practice and continuous development.

Training opportunities

Townsville HHS offers accredited training positions across a broad range of specialties, including:

• Medicine and subspecialties (e.g. cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, respiratory, rheumatology)
• Surgery and surgical subspecialties (e.g. general surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, urology, vascular, plastics)
• Critical care (e.g. emergency medicine, intensive care, anaesthetics)

Research, teaching, and development

As a teaching hospital with strong links to James Cook University, Townsville HHS offers opportunities to:

• Participate in research and innovation
• Contribute to teaching and supervision
• Access dedicated education and training programs

The North Queensland difference

Working in Townsville means combining accelerated clinical experience with lifestyle flexibility—without the long commutes of metropolitan centres.

Experience more

Experience more. More learning. More support. More career. More life. More connection.

Contact us

Are you interested in living and working in north Queensland? 

We are always looking for talented clinicians to join our team. Don't wait to see a position advertised, contact us now. 

Phone: (07) 4433 1056

Email: {"ct":"Ovr1im25NWVBRD7N2CU\/QpcGcGkeiymQudSvnlinSYQ=","iv":"bdb8547c64eb95516b7905034dd742cd","s":"96c5619bdfe151ba"} or {"ct":"oNY4lSDrnvjUvwywwOQR5Dq9IoSZrrOWyvJyBNQjMjuamncwUs\/VFpu24LA32e1X","iv":"432a66dc7daca1078cbbb7abb7452acc","s":"c6ce275bca5f4aad"}

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