KEEP IN TOUCH
(07) 3105 7800
Turrbal and Jagera Country
Level 4, 348 Edward Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Twenty-one medical, allied health and nursing students will return to North Queensland from 10–12 July as part of Health Workforce Queensland’s GROW Rural program, a targeted initiative supporting remote and rural health workforce development to build a future workforce for the region.
Now in its second year for this cohort, GROW Rural North Queensland (NQ) moves beyond initial exposure to rural practice and community immersion to focus on building stronger connections between students, communities and employers, and supporting clearer pathways into rural careers.
Across Cairns, Atherton, Malanda, Mareeba, and Speewah, students build their understanding of rural service delivery, local workforce needs, and multidisciplinary models of care, before returning to these communities later in their studies for clinical placements that reinforce the relationships established through the program.
Direct engagement with local providers gives students real-world rural experience and builds the relationships that drive employment, with repeated exposure to the same communities strengthening long-term intent to practise locally.
During the July event, students will:
Join a yarning circle with local health professionals in Cairns, building cultural capability and deepening understanding of First Nations health in North Queensland
Take part in a hands-on session exploring rheumatic heart disease and the use of ultrasound technology
Live like locals by staying with billet families in Atherton, experiencing firsthand the lifestyle and connections that shape rural practice
Develop clinical skills at Birdwing Therapies in Malanda through a real-world, rodeo-based scenario, before attending the Mareeba Rodeo later that day
Explore rural mental health service delivery with Boonooloo Psychology, including equine-assisted therapy, building insight into community-based care and the range of therapeutic approaches available to support patient recovery, alongside mindfulness and meditation activities.
The GROW Rural North Queensland (NQ) program is proudly supported by Event Partner, Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN).
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Ben Tooth said that by providing students with authentic, hands-on experiences, the program helps to foster a genuine connection to rural and remote primary care, lifestyle, and community.
NQPHN is proud to partner with Health Workforce Queensland on the GROW Rural program, as it plays a crucial role in highlighting the opportunities available in rural and remote healthcare, ideally building an ongoing sustainable health workforce.
By supporting pathways for future health professionals to experience rural and remote communities, we ensure residents continue to have access to high-quality, community-based care delivered by those with local knowledge and understanding.
Health Workforce Queensland CEO Stewart Gordon said programs like GROW Rural are critical to building a strong, sustainable rural workforce.
By partnering with NQPHN and local communities, we’re giving students real experience, building genuine connections with local health service providers, and creating clear pathways into rural careers to strengthen the future workforce for North Queensland.
GROW Rural NQ is designed to support the next generation of health professionals to transition from study to practice in underserved communities, ensuring a sustainable, job-ready workforce for remote and rural Queensland.
