Investing in Rural Excellence: How the HWSP is Transforming Oral Health in Mareeba

​Through the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP), Health Workforce Queensland (HWQ) continues to support remote and rural clinicians to access education and training that directly benefits their communities. For Alex Park, a dentist based in Mareeba, Far North Queensland, the scholarship has not only upskilled his clinical abilities but is reshaping the oral health landscape of the entire region.

Alex is one of many passionate health professionals supported by HWSP to pursue training that would otherwise be financially or logistically out of reach. His recent enrolment in an advanced surgical and prosthodontic dentistry program has been made possible by the program’s funding, allowing him to travel regularly to Sydney for intensive clinical blocks, all while continuing to serve his patients in Mareeba.

“The HWSP funding has been instrumental in enabling me to undertake a competitive, TEQSA-accredited postgraduate university program in advanced surgical and prosthodontic dentistry. This course requires me to travel to Sydney every six weeks for intensive training blocks of five days each. Without the financial assistance from HWSP, the ongoing costs of travel, accommodation, and associated expenses, in addition to the costs of running a rural practice, would have been highly challenging. The scholarship has alleviated this financial strain, ensuring that I can continue the program without compromising my ability to remain in Mareeba and serve my patients.”

The impact of this training is already being felt on the ground. Prior to Alex’s upskilling, patients in Mareeba and surrounding communities often faced the burden of travelling long distances, usually to Cairns, to receive advanced dental care. Wait times, travel costs, and accessibility issues created significant barriers to timely treatment.

Now, Alex is able to offer a much broader range of services locally, including complex extractions, oral surgery, implant-supported restorations, and both fixed and removable prosthodontic solutions, all tailored to patients’ financial circumstances and medical complexity. This has helped close a critical service gap identified in the 2024 Health Workforce Needs Assessment, which highlighted shortages in oral health services across rural Queensland.

With enhanced skills comes enhanced confidence. Alex reports that the HWSP has bolstered not only his technical proficiency but also his role as a collaborative care provider, integrating closely with GPs, pharmacists, and allied health professionals to deliver coordinated care for complex cases.

The ripple effect of this support extends beyond clinical outcomes. Alex has also contributed to the academic community, recently publishing a systematic review in the Journal of Dentistry (2025) on the accuracy of digital versus conventional implant impressions, a reflection of his commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.

Importantly, the HWSP has allowed Alex to remain in Mareeba, ensuring continuity of care for patients while advancing his career. “The HWSP support has allowed me to pursue a practical and sustainable upskilling pathway that balances the demands of rural practice with advanced clinical education. Specialist registration in dentistry requires at least three years of full-time training in metropolitan centres, which would mean relocating away from Mareeba and leaving my patients without continuity of care. The HWSP has enabled me to avoid this disruption while still significantly expanding my clinical capacity.”

“Ultimately, the scholarship has strengthened my resolve to pursue a long-term career in rural practice. It has given me the continuity and confidence to continually push the boundaries of what can be achieved in a rural setting and deliver a higher standard of care to those who need it most.”

HWQ is proud to support professionals like Alex, whose dedication ensures rural communities receive the high-quality healthcare they deserve, now and into the future.

Pictured: Emerald Creek Falls in Mareeba, where Alex practice is based.