Central Queensland University biology honours graduate Madoc Schlencker’s study path has led him to a remote indigenous island off the coast of Darwin.

Rockhampton-raised Madoc is now a third year University of Queensland Brisbane medical student who, as part of his clinical rural rotation to Rockhampton, has been given the opportunity to work on Bathurst Island, off the Top End of Australia, for six weeks.

He began the rotation last week in Rockhampton, attending lectures on indigenous health and receiving medical instruction through UQ’s rural clinical division at the Rockhampton Base Hospital.

Madoc arrived on Bathurst Island on Tuesday to a busy welcome that included a clinic meeting, orientation and attending to patients.

“It is a real eye-opener,’’ Madoc said following his first day’s duties.

“These people have real needs which are not really being met. There are a lot of issues. For example, the average Aborigine has a life expectancy of 20 years less than the average Australian,’’ he said.

He said Bathurst Island was unusual in that it had two full-time doctors.

“Most islands have a health clinic, which may or may not be attended by a registered nurse. If it is not attended full time by a nurse, then there are often visits to the small unattended clinics by either a nurse or a doctor.

Madoc, who is also in the John Flynn Scholarship Scheme that provides him with clinical experience in Innisfail in far north Queensland each year, said he was not sure what he would do when he graduated but regional practice appealed to him.

He said his CQU degree had provided him with a sound pathway to graduate entry into medicine at UQ.