GROW Rural North Queensland

GROW Rural North Queensland 2025 Cohort Applications Opening Soon!

Does the idea of starting a unique rural health journey with 25 multidisciplinary health students appeal to you?

GROW Rural North Queensland brings together a cohort of students who start the GROW journey in first year and continue that journey until they graduate. On the way they will visit Atherton Tablelands communities, experience being immersed into community and learn from local health professionals. GROW Rural students also have the opportunity to return to the Tablelands to undertake their university placements and explore the possibility of taking up their first position as an early career graduate.

If you’re wondering what your health career road map could look like, GROW Rural is your first step.

GROW Your Future Today

In 2017 Laura started her GROW Rural journey as a first-year physio student. Today she's employed as a new graduate with Proactive Physio in Cairns.

Hear how Laura grew from physio student into a GROW Rural clinical skills session facilitator!

Tap into your potential for growth by applying for GROW Rural NQ.

Curious about GROW Rural? Read what some of our current students discovered:

“While we bring passion for our individual disciplines, the GROW Rural program ignites the passion for a rural lifestyle, where we will get the opportunity to not only follow our dream career in healthcare but to provide that care where it is most needed and become part of an amazing community.”

“I didn't fully understand what I was getting into when I joined the GROW Rural program, but since I joined, I've been able to experience so many different things. I've interacted with people I would have otherwise never met, got to appreciate what living in a rural community can be like, and gained an understanding that will help prepare me for work in rural health. If I could only pick one club/organisation/program I could join while studying at uni, this program would be the only one on my mind.”

“If anyone is not sure whether they want to go rural or remote after their studies, there is no better way to really get a taste of what Australian country hospitality and expertise and community is like! Put in an application!

GROW Rural North Queensland 2025 Cohort Application Information

Applications round dates: Opens 8:00am Thursday, 3 April, and closes 5:30pm Monday, 5 May 2025
Event Dates: Friday, 25 July to Sunday, 27 July 2025
GROW Rural NQ locations: Atherton Tablelands and surrounds
GROW Rural NQ places on offer: 25 multidisciplinary health students

Application Steps:

Register an EOI so we can notify when applications are open:
Create a profile on the Health Workforce Queensland Portal
Attend a GROW Rural Information Session:
Information session registrations will be through Eventbrite, please click here to let us know which session(s) you will attend.

Monday, 31 March, 5:00pm
Thursday, 10 April, 5:00pm
Monday, 14 April, 12:00pm
Wednesday, 16 April, 5:00pm
Tuesday, 22 April, 5:00pm
Book Information Session

3. Apply via HWQ portal:

Applications open: 8:00am Thursday, 3 April 2025
Access GROW Rural NQ application through your HWQ profile
Applications must be completed in one sitting (approx. 30 minutes)
Includes 6 short-answer questions (max 150 words each)

4. Applications close: 5:30pm Monday 5 May 2025

5. Application outcome: will be advised by email on Tuesday 3 June 2025

Important Information

Attendees are required to be 18 years of age at the time of the event
GROW Rural is open to first-year full-time students only
GROW Rural is open to medical, nursing, midwifery, dentistry and allied health students
GROW Rural only accepts students from Queensland universities
GROW Rural accepts domestic students only
Interviews will be conducted for short-listed applicants so we can get to know you better
All successful applicants will need to undertake a police check (at Health Workforce Queensland’ s cost) or provide a valid Blue Card
Each student is required to attend the annual GROW Rural NQ rural immersion events from 2025-2027
Students commence GROW Rural NQ in their first year of study and are supported to remain on the program until they graduate
This is a cost-free program; all travel, accommodation and catering will be covered by Health Workforce Queensland
Travel may include a combination of air and bus
Please note the two nights of GROW Rural accommodation may include a combination of:

Shared accommodation arrangements with other GROW Rural students of the same sex. Each student is allocated a single bed with a shared bathroom.
Billeting with a host community family either individually or with other same-sex students. Each student is allocated a single bed with a shared bathroom.

To determine the possible influences the GROW Rural program has on future rural and remote practice, Health Workforce Queensland will invite GROW Rural graduates to participate in a longitudinal tracking survey. The first tracking survey will invite GROW Rural graduates to participate in the study and to provide their AHPRA registration number (where applicable). Subsequent surveys will be emailed every two years.

For information regarding Health Workforce Queensland's COVID-19 Plan for Events, click here

For more information, please contact our Training and Events team.

Go back to GROW Rural page

Supported by Event Partner:

GROW Rural North Queensland Community Supporters

Health Workforce Queensland acknowledges the ongoing commitment of the following community organisations and businesses who so generously provide in-kind support to GROW Rural North Queensland.