A move to a state-of-the-art facility in the Cairns CBD and record growth in enrolments has James Cook University's Bachelor of Nursing Science course primed for 2026.
JCU's Nursing program in Cairns will make the move to the $68m Cairns Tropical Enterprise Centre (CTEC) in the heart of the city from next year, where the entirety of the degree will be taught in the newly-opened centre.
CTEC is situated alongside Cairns Hospital's new surgical centre and part of the Far North Queensland Health Innovation Precinct, making it more central for students and keeping them closer to clinical services where they undertake professional placements.
JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs said he is excited at what's ahead for the Cairns Bachelor of Nursing Science course and is looking forward to renewed growth that can directly affect shortages across Queensland in this critical role.
"We're seeing continued strong demand for our Nursing course in Cairns. Enrolments are expected to have risen by nearly 30 per cent by the end of this year, and we're forecasting another 12 per cent growth in student numbers in 2026," Prof Biggs said.
"Our Nursing course has long been a leader in regional, rural and tropical healthcare sciences and this move to CTEC will begin an exciting new chapter for JCU in Cairns.
"To have all our Nursing students in Cairns taught from this precinct, as well as years 4–5 of our College of Medicine and Dentistry programs, is a great win for Far North Queensland and will help secure a healthier future for the region."
JCU Nursing and Midwifery Academic Head Professor Karen Theobald said the move to CTEC would bolster their already strong student numbers and help target critical shortages in the industry.
"There is a national and international shortage of nurses in the workforce so having a new building and a new home for JCU nursing in Cairns is a great thing," Prof Theobald said.
"JCU Nursing was number one in Queensland for full-time employment in the 2025 Good Universities Guide and to be able to offer new students state-of-the-art facilities and flexibility around studying is a real win for everyone involved."
Professor Pauline Calleja, Dean College of Healthcare Sciences, said this move gives nursing and midwifery at JCU the opportunity to partner more directly with our health partners in Cairns.
"It makes education more accessible as it will be more central and allow us to update our resources for student use," she said.
"Nursing at JCU already provides a mixed mode offering for those students needing high levels of flexibility and study from a distance as well as an on-campus mode for those who want more face-to-face connection and contact to support their studies.
"In conjunction with this move, nursing students will have much more flexibility in their on-campus mode of study as well. This is a great change for education accessibility while providing high levels of support when needed."
