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Strengthening Queensland’s Remote and Rural Health Workforce: A Year of Impactful Recruitment
Health Workforce Queensland (HWQ) continues to play a vital role in supporting the delivery of quality healthcare across remote, rural, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In the 2024–2025 financial year, our recruitment programs, relocation support, and workforce initiatives directly supported 180 health professionals to live and work where they’re needed most.
This year’s results reflect a focused, strategic response to workforce shortages in priority areas, particularly in general practice and allied health, and a continued commitment to supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs).
Recruitment Highlights: Building Capacity Across Queensland
General Practitioners (GPs)
Our GP recruitment efforts resulted in 60 successful placements across Modified Monash (MM) regions 1 to 6, with the majority in MM2 and MM5 locations, helping address primary care shortages in rural and regional towns.
Allied Health & Nursing (AH&N)
This year also saw 29 AH&N placements, comprising 23 allied health professionals and 6 nurses, further strengthening multidisciplinary care teams in remote and underserved communities.
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
HWQ remains committed to partnering with ACCHSs to deliver culturally safe, community-led healthcare, with 4 GPs and 3 AH&N professionals placed in ACCHSs in the 2024-2025 financial year. These placements reflect strong relationships with ACCHSs and a shared goal of building sustainable, local health workforces in Indigenous communities.
Locum services
HWQ plays a vital role in sustaining rural healthcare by delivering essential locum GP services, enabling permanent rural doctors to take well-deserved breaks and pursue ongoing professional development.
In the 2024–2025 financial year, we successfully supported rural practices with 292 locum days. Importantly, 207 of these days were delivered in MM 6–7 regions, helping to ensure continuity of care and safeguard access to health services in some of Queensland’s most remote and underserved communities.
Relocation and Incentive Support
In addition to recruitment, HWQ provided practical support through our relocation and incentive packages, easing the transition for clinicians and their families moving to remote and rural Queensland.
This year over 58 relocation packages were allocated. Combined with bursaries, workforce grants, and ongoing career development, our services support both new graduates and experienced professionals.
Success Stories from the Field
Behind every placement is a person, and a community that benefits. This year, HWQ’s recruitment and support services helped connect passionate health professionals with meaningful roles in remote and rural communities. Two examples of how our programs make a difference are shown in the interviews below.
Dr Alberto Kalach, GP – Beaudesert
Dr Kalach’s journey from international surgical training to rural general practice in Queensland highlights the importance of tailored support in building a sustainable rural health workforce. With a strong background in plastic surgery and a deep passion for skin cancer care, Dr Kalach transitioned into general practice through the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) and Fellowship Support Program (FSP), supported by Health Workforce Queensland. Now based in Beaudesert, he is delivering vital skin cancer services to underserved communities while discovering a new purpose within general practice. Dr Kalach reflects on his professional path, the unique rewards of rural medicine, and the impact of personalised support throughout his transition in the interview linked below.
Erin Weekes, New Graduate OT - Mt Isa
A former university health student, supported through HWQ’s Going Rural North bursary program for her placement in Cape York, Erin reconnected with HWQ at a university careers event. From that initial connection, she was recruited to a graduate position in Mount Isa with North and West Remote Health (NWRH). Erin also received a relocation incentive package and has since committed to attending the HWQ Allied Health Student Careers Expo to share her experience with students and encourage others to consider rural pathways. You can read the full article below.
Program and Campaign Highlights
Rural Workforce Enhancement Campaign
In collaboration with Primary Health Networks (PHNs), we remain committed to strengthening the remote and rural health workforce. Our longstanding partnership with Northern Queensland PHN (NQPHN) has continued to deliver results through the Rural Workforce Enhancement Campaign, active since 2019. In the 2024–2025 financial year, we supported the relocation of 21 health professionals to North Queensland, improving access to vital health services across the region.
Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)
In early 2025, Pittsworth Medical Centre faced an uncertain future. With only one GP remaining and no success after years of recruitment, the practice was at risk of closure, leaving an entire community without local primary care. Through a coordinated partnership between HWQ and RVTS, a sustainable solution was found. This case highlights how strategic collaboration, targeted incentives, and timely recruitment can not only keep rural doors open but restore vital health services to communities in need. Read the full article via the button below
Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)
Through the PFP, the Government aims to support International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and other non-vocationally recognised (non-VR) doctors to gain valuable general practice experience and improve access to health care for Australians, where it is most needed, and HWQ administers the program in Queensland.
The program aims to help doctors gain valuable general practice experience, improve access to general practitioners (GPs) in Distribution Priority Areas (DPA) and give general practices the opportunity to recruit from a pool of previously unavailable doctors.
As of 30 June 2025, HWQ had 124 active candidates on the PFP Program. Since the program began in April 2024, 18 PFP doctors have transitioned onto a training program: 17 to the Fellowship Support Program (FSP) and 1 to the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS).
Looking Ahead
This year’s outcomes reflect the strength of our partnerships with Primary Health Networks (PHNs), health services, and educational institutions across Queensland. They also highlight the critical role of tailored recruitment and support strategies and programs in addressing health workforce shortages, not just filling positions, but strengthening communities.
As we move forward, HWQ remains committed to sustainable workforce development, rural pipeline investment, and equitable access to healthcare across all corners of the state.
