New graduate doctors on duty in hospitals throughout region

Seventy-six new graduate doctors have joined the team at Sunshine Coast Health, ready to transform their training into person-centred care at hospitals across the region.

Dr Andrew Wong is one of the new interns, excited to be starting work after many years of study.

Inspired by his mother’s medical career in Malaysia, he is excited to be starting his own at Sunshine Coast Health.

“Watching her as I grew up and how much she loves her patients, loves her job … really inspired me,” Andrew says.

“I’m currently hoping to be a psychiatrist, just like my mum. I think it runs in the family – a bit of that gene to just love taking care of people’s mental health.”

Dr Ayoka Wong

Having grown up on Hamilton Island and studied in North Queensland, Dr Ayoka Wong was drawn to the Sunshine Coast lifestyle, as well as the many learning opportunities on offer.

“I’ve heard really good feedback from previous interns and doctors who have worked here,” she says.

“It sounds like you’re very well supported, the education system’s also really great here. It sounds like a great place to set up a career in medicine.”

Ayoka will start out in the general medicine rotation at Nambour General Hospital.

Clinical training director Dr Sara Lucas says the intern program is designed to foster growth and provide mentorship, while supporting the doctors through the first year of their challenging career.

“We’ve got people who have come from all over Australia to come and work and do their internship in the Sunshine Coast,” Sara says.