JCU: Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health

05/08/2026

Student Placement | Check out what Jono, one of our 4th-year JCU medical students, had to say about his recent placement out in Longreach! https://bit.ly/4fZ9ZBN

Jono had such an incredible time in Central West Queensland that he is already counting down the days until his next rural adventure—a 12-week placement in Mount Isa next year!

Thank you to our amazing Longreach team and the welcoming Central West community for making our students' experiences so unforgettable.



JCU: College of Medicine and Dentistry

More than 10 years ago, I first visited Longreach with my family, and I still remember being amazed to see a huge Qantas plane in the middle of the outback.

04/08/2026

Student Placement | Checkout Dietetics students Louise and Kennedy supporting PCYC Mount Isa with their herb garden while on placement with North West Hospital and Health Service

JCU MCRRH truly values the opportunity to work with the PCYC and NWHHS to help facilitate student learning in the community while on placement.

30/07/2026

Student Placement | Check out two of our 4th year JCU Medicine students and our Longreach team at Longreach’s Central West Queensland Care Expo held in June!

Isabella, Patti and Jonathan joined a variety of local providers and community stakeholders supporting health and wellbeing across Central West Queensland.



JCU: College of Medicine and Dentistry

29/07/2026

Student Placement | Check out what Occupational Therapy student, Jhett on placement in Longreach for 10 weeks got up to with North West Remote Health.

It is always such a pleasure to watch students grow and gain confidence during their placements.

Thank you to NWRH and JCU MCRRH’s Longreach team for supporting JCU students on their placement journey.

Recently we had the pleasure of hosting Jhett a fourth year Occupational Therapy student from JCU: James Cook University, Australia📚✏️

Joining our Longreach team for a 10 week placement, we asked Jhett a few questions about herself and her time with us:

❓HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR TIME WITH OUR CENTRAL WEST TEAM?
I am so grateful to have had my final placement experience with the friendly team at NWRH, in Longreach.

Throughout my placement, I have felt very well supported as a student and have had many opportunities to develop and consolidate my clinical skills and knowledge in this rural and remote community setting.

❓WHAT SKILLS DID YOU GET TO PRACTICE?
I have had the opportunity to collaborate with my clinical educator and other OTs on the team, to provide a range of OT interventions, such as home modifications, assistive technology prescription, functional retraining, and more.

❓WHAT WOULD BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR PLACEMENT?
The highlight of my placement has been travelling to nearby towns on outreach trips with the multidisciplinary NWRH team. These experiences have helped to shape my understanding of OT and healthcare in rural and remote areas, and the successful impact collaborative practice can have on client outcomes and holistic wellbeing!

❓WHY DID YOU CHOOSE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
I chose OT as my career pathway as I am passionate about helping others to live their life with as much meaning, purpose and independence as possible!

❓ANY FINAL WORDS FOR OTHER ASPIRING ALLIED HEALTH STUDENTS?
Throughout my placement, I have developed an understanding of just how important it is for OT and healthcare students to undertake a placement in rural and remote settings.

Aside from the beautiful scenery, this setting offers the unique opportunity for students to develop practical and clinical skills in locations where health services and resources may be limited, wait times can be abundant and where members of small communities especially appreciate the input you can offer!

JCU: Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health

09/07/2026

Student Placement | Checkout what our Exercise Physiology students on placement have been up to with Injilinji Community Kindergarten. A big thankyou to the Injilinji team, we truly value your continued support in providing meaningful learning for students on placement.

🎓 University students are learning on the job in Mount Isa ... while helping fill gaps for local services.

Fourth-year exercise physiology students from QUT recently completed placements at Injilinji Community Kindergarten , through a service learning program facilitated by JCU: Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health.

Instead of observing in a clinic or hospital, the students ran weekly, short, fun programs to support children’s movement, balance, coordination, turn-taking and confidence 🏃‍♀️🎶

“This provides extra support and expertise that we don’t have and that is needed in our services,” Early Childhood Teacher Rebecca Richmond said.

👉Student Sarah Moschella said working with children and the community gave students “that experience that you would never get if you were just sitting at uni behind your computer all day”.

Fellow student Olivia McVie said it was rewarding 🥰 to see children improve, “even on their jumping ability or their single leg ability”.

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29/06/2026

Student Placement | Checkout what our Occupational Therapy students on placement and our local educators have been up to with Ngukuthati Children & Family Centre. A big thank you to the Ngukuthati team , we truly value your continued support in creating meaningful learning for our students.

🌿 Celebrating Our Occupational Therapy Student Partnership 🌿

As Term 2 comes to a close, we'd like to take a moment to celebrate and thank the amazing Occupational Therapy students who have been part of our Ngukuthati family this term.

A heartfelt thank you to Lucie, Bella and Wynona, who have spent the past 9 weeks supporting our Tuesday Playgroup, engaging with children and families, and contributing to a special project designed to link play experiences with key developmental areas through an Occupational Therapy lens.

We would also like to welcome and acknowledge Alice and Eshal, who will be continuing this work during Term 3 and helping further develop resources that support children's learning, development and wellbeing through play.

Throughout the placement, students have worked alongside our staff, families and children, bringing fresh ideas, enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to community. Their project will help strengthen our understanding of how everyday play experiences support important developmental skills and school readiness outcomes.

Partnerships like this create valuable learning opportunities for future health professionals while also supporting positive outcomes for children and families in our community.

A special thank you to Tahnee, Kylie and the JCU placement team for their ongoing collaboration and support. We are grateful for the strong partnership we continue to build together.

We look forward to welcoming our next student cohort in Term 3 and seeing this exciting work continue to grow.

💜 Thank you for being part of the Ngukuthati journey.

18/06/2026

✨ Long Weekend Closure Notice ✨

Just a friendly reminder that we will be closed for the Mount Isa Show Holiday.

Our team wishes you a happy and relaxing break.

09/06/2026

📣 Upcoming Mount Isa Women’s Master Class

James Cook University’s MCRRH and NQRTH are excited to support Mount Isa’s inaugural annual Women’s Health Master Class. Guest presenters include Professor Rebecca Kimble and Dr Jay Iyer.

📍Location: JCU MCRRH, Mount Isa
💻 Online option available for masterclass sessions
🥗Catering: Morning tea & lunch provided with gluten free and vegetarian options

➡️Register Here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CLBlC9eVvEq6_D_8IMA5wJqzHVJ68sxHi26uGXcNm4tUQkxEM1o0MzNZRThGSDFFRFdLSlRMMExEMiQlQCN0PWcu&origin=QRCode&utm_source=North+West+NQRTH+Update&utm_campaign=8e7b981f7f-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_07_09_01_04_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6120a8d6f2-481625965

A great opportunity to come together with leading experts and go on a dynamic and insightful exploration of key issues in contemporary women’s health.

Thank you to the Master Class sponsors for making this event possible in our region.

21/05/2026

Heading out west or up north for a student placement in rural or remote Queensland — or supporting students who are?

Stay sharp and stay safe with JCU’s Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health and the Queensland Fire Department's newly developed North & North West Queensland Driving Safety Quick Guide.

The guide will be included in all JCU MCRRH student placement information packs and will be available soon via the JCU MCRRH website.

If you’d like an early copy email [email protected].

07/05/2026

Outback Allied Health Forum | Abstract Extension

Good news — abstract submissions for the Outback Allied Health Forum have been extended to Sunday 17 May !

We welcome submissions from anyone working in rural or remote health: clinicians, practitioners, managers, educators, students, and researchers. Whether you're involved in quality improvement or research, your work matters.

📝 Submissions & Further Information
https://www.crrh.jcu.edu.au/.../outback-allied-health.../

Let’s connect, share, and shape the future of allied health across the outback.