The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) questions the launch of Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) new medical school. 

The Labor Government and QUT have announced the planned opening of a new undergraduate medical school in Queensland. The QUT Doctor of Medicine program will aim to launch in 2027 but has yet to be accredited by the Australian Medical Council. 

AMSA is concerned that funding a new medical school is a significant expense in the health and education budget which will not fill these workforce gaps. 

Of great concern is the location of QUT, whilst the program claims to be aimed at rural and regional participation, it is located in a metropolitan zone. Additionally, this is in the same region as several existing Queensland Medical Schools. 

“Queensland medical students are already struggling to receive high quality medical placements. An additional school will stretch over-extended hospital teaching staff beyond capacity, leaving our future junior doctors will be underprepared to serve our community.” says Harry Luu, President of Griffith University’s Medical Society. 

These sentiments are supported by Elaine Zhong and Grace Mitchell, the Medical Society Presidents of the University of Queensland and Bond University respectively. 

Differing medical schools within the same hospitals requires different teachings to fit into the school’s curriculum. Oftentimes the responsibility to teach and oversee students falls onto junior doctors; Queensland is already facing a junior doctor shortage. 

AMSA commends that this medical school aims to address health workforce maldistribution within Queensland. Australia suffers from nationwide General Practice shortages especially in rural, remote and low socioeconomic areas. However, AMSA questions why these funds and the proposed programs should not be allocated to the existing medical schools. 

“It takes time, money and resources that Australia does not have to set up new programs. These funds could easily be utilised to provide better quality rural and regional placements, and provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students or students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.” says Melody Ahfock, President of AMSA and a Queensland medical student. 

QUT and the Labor Government must be honest with the Australian public and the future doctors it is recruiting about the necessity of this school and the realities of its creation: this is not the solution to workforce maldistribution. 

AMSA calls for the Government to: 

1. Cease the opening of this medical school unless:
   1. An evidence based workforce model is created that demonstrates its effectiveness. 
   2. Appropriate funding is granted along the medicine pipeline to reduce bottlenecks. 
2. Redirect this funding to current medical schools in Queensland to:
   1. Fund high quality placement and other programs associated with exposure to General Practice. 
   2. Fund pathways for students in rural and remote communities, with low socioeconomic backgrounds and for students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin to complete their medical training. 

AMSA calls for the AMC to: 

1. Thoroughly review the necessity of this medical school and employ safeguards to protect the quality of clinical placements.