Interns take first step in medical careers

BENDIGO Health has welcomed 43 new doctors this month as they start their 12-month internship program, marking the first step in their medical careers and strengthening the future health workforce for the region.

The interns will rotate through a wide range of specialties including general medicine, general surgery, emergency, renal, oncology, orthopaedics, cardiology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, geriatric medicine and urology.

Their rotations will help them build strong clinical foundations before progressing into specialty training.

Half of this year’s intern cohort are graduates from Monash University, with others graduating from medical schools across Australia. Many have previously undertaken clinical rotations in Bendigo during their training, returning to the region to begin their careers.

Bendigo Health’s supervisor of intern training, Dr Hannah Brownstein, said the arrival of the new interns brings welcome energy at a busy time of year.

“These are fresh faces with great energy,” Dr Brownstein said. “They are beginning an important year of learning, and many interns go on to stay with us, training and working right through their careers, which is exactly what our community needs.”

Clinical director of cancer services, associate Professor Robert Blum, said the internship year is critical for both the doctors and the hospital.

“This is their first year as doctors,” associate Professor Blum said. “Our role is to support them with strong supervision, quality education and a safe environment so they can start their careers on the right foot and provide excellent care for our growing region.”

Among the new cohort is Bendigo local Billy Quirk, who was born at Bendigo Hospital, attended school locally, studied medicine at Monash University, and has now returned home to work.

“Bendigo Health supported my family and my community,” Mr Quirk said. “Now I get to be part of that, caring for the place that raised me.”

Demonstrating the strength of Bendigo Health’s training and retention pathways, two-thirds of last year’s interns will continue working there in 2026.