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(07) 3105 7800
Turrbal and Jagera Country
Level 4, 348 Edward Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
On Monday, 22 September Chris Mitchell retired from his role as CEO of Health Workforce Queensland. After 24 dedicated years in the role, we are all sad to see him go, but we’re excited for what lies ahead in his next chapter, including a major home renovation and his new tradie van called ‘VanGo’. Before his departure Chris prepared a farewell video.
The HWQ Board recently announced the appointment of Stewart Gordon as our next CEO, and we are all looking forward to welcoming Stewart when he commences in the role in January 2026. You can see the formal announcement below.
Our annual Health Workforce Stakeholder Group meeting was held on 11 September in Brisbane. It was wonderful to reconnect with members from 36 organisations around Queensland with a similar goal in mind. You can read the full communique from the meeting below.
Another big event on our calendar was our inaugural Allied Health Student Careers Expo in Brisbane in August. Twenty health care practices and organisations joined us to share their current vacancies and highlight the support available for new graduates in remote and rural Queensland. The feedback from both organisations and the students was really positive, with amazing employment pipeline results. We have over 80 exciting vacancies available for new graduates. You can view them below.
Health Workforce Queensland welcomes the formal recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine as a specialised field within general practice. This milestone acknowledges the vital role Rural Generalists play in delivering high-quality, comprehensive care across remote and rural Australia. We commend the efforts of ACRRM, RACGP, and the Australian Government in achieving this important step forward for the rural health workforce.
Health Workforce Queensland warmly congratulates Professor Linda Deravin on her appointment as Deputy Commissioner for Nursing, and Associate Professor Geoff Argus as Deputy Commissioner for Allied Health. We look forward to working collaboratively to strengthen the rural health workforce and improve access to quality healthcare for communities across remote, rural and regional Queensland.
Our annual Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA) survey is now live, and we encourage you to take the time to share your views. These valuable survey results help inform our planning and determine our focus. You can take the survey via the button below.
Earlier this month, our 2023 GROW Rural South West Queensland student cohort completed their third and final rural immersion, this time in Charleville, following previous visits to Roma and St George over the past two years. A full wrap-up of the event will be available soon but meanwhile check out some highlights from 7 News Toowoomba.
While the event was a success, it was also tinged with sadness due to the absence of our Health Workforce Connector, Julie Mayer who sadly passed away in August. Though Julie’s time with us was brief, her impact was lasting. Her energy, generosity, and unwavering commitment to rural health were evident from day one. Julie was driven by a desire to make a difference, and she did.
Zena Martin
Acting CEO, Health Workforce Queensland
