Junior doctors descended ‘underground’ into simulated mine emergencies as part of an innovative push to attract and retain Australian-trained doctors in regional areas like Mackay.
The immersive workshop, delivered as part of the 2026 Junior Doctors Conference in Mackay, gave early-career doctors a firsthand look at the unique realities of practising medicine outside metropolitan centres in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between healthcare and mines rescue.
Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) hosted the event in collaboration with James Cook University’s Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs (NQRTH) to offer young doctors a practical experience that could not be replicated in a lecture theatre.
Hosted at the Resources Centre of Excellence’s simulated underground mine environment on July 26, the program booked out well ahead of the conference, reflecting strong interest in hands-on, real-world training experiences.
Participants rotated through three emergency mines rescue scenarios – cardiac arrest from an electrical conveyor incident, loader implement entrapment and crush injury, and underground fire – which led into emergency medicine and clinical training settings.
The workshop helped junior doctors develop leadership, communication and rapid-decision making skills while working alongside experienced mines rescue personnel from Anglo American and Queensland Mines Rescue Service.
JCU NQRTH Regional Medical Training Manager Cherie Miller said supporting initiatives such as the AMAQ Junior Doctors Conference was an important part of strengthening the regional medical workforce and showcasing the diverse career opportunities available in communities like Mackay.
“Attracting and retaining Australian-trained doctors in regional communities is critical to the future of healthcare in Queensland,” said Cherie.
“This workshop gives junior doctors and medical students an authentic insight into the range of situations and clinical challenges they may encounter while practising in regional areas — not just in hospitals, but in complex, real-world industrial environments.
“What we’re offering here is something junior doctors simply don’t get in a city-based training pathway.
“When doctors can see the impact they can make, the variety in their work and the support networks available, they are far more likely to build their careers in regions like ours.”
Anglo American’s Grosvenor Mine Mines Rescue Captain Boyd Buschmann, who this year competed in the International Mines Rescue Competition in Zambia after his team finished second in the Australian competition, developed the emergency scenarios using lessons drawn from more than 20 years in mines rescue.
He said the workshop provided a valuable opportunity to share practical experience gained over decades of emergency response and preparedness.
“If these junior doctors choose a career in regional medicine, there’s a good chance they’ll one day be called upon to support situations where these skills can make a real difference,” said Boyd.
“The scenarios we created were designed to be as realistic as possible because that’s how people learn. We wanted the junior doctors to experience the kinds of challenges they could face managing complex situations and working effectively with other emergency response teams.
“It’s important we share our learnings with the next generation so they enter the workforce better prepared for complex emergencies whether it’s on an industrial site, at a road crash or in the community.”
