Fifteen new junior doctors have commenced orientation at Gold Coast Health this week, marking the organisation’s first-ever mid-year intake of medical interns.
The new intake is designed to strengthen the future health workforce by offering an additional entry point for local medical graduates.
Gold Coast Health Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Raghu Murthy said the mid-year intake aligned with long-term planning for both workforce and service growth.
“This new cohort supports our ability to deliver high-quality care now and into the future, while also offering more opportunities for local medical graduates to stay and train on the Gold Coast,” Dr Murthy said.
“It’s part of our broader strategy to build a strong and sustainable pipeline of junior doctors to meet the evolving needs of our community”.
Interns will rotate through departments such as general medicine, emergency and surgery and will be supported by experienced supervisors and medical educators.
“This is a significant step in their professional journey – the beginning of their medical careers as provisionally registered doctors,” Dr Murthy said.
“The year ahead will expose them to a wide range of clinical scenarios – from paediatrics to end-of-life care – and offer a well-rounded foundation for future practice.”
Medical intern Yian (Ian) Zhao says he was inspired to become a doctor from a young age.
“I’ve always been in and out of the hospital system throughout my life for various different causes like asthma, various surgeries and musculoskeletal stuff," he said.
“I think the main reason I wanted to be a doctor is because every time I was in the hospital, I felt that it just seemed like the coolest job in the world for me.
“And I guess essentially that like drove me to push myself to be in medicine more.”
The total number of medical interns for 2025 now stands at 109, up from 94 in January.
The mid-year cohort has completed six days of orientation, including clinical skills simulations, CPR and asepsis training and mentorship to enhance job readiness.
Interns begin clinical duties from 23 June across Gold Coast University Hospital and Robina Hospital.
