HWQ recruits and supports doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals needed in regional, rural, and remote Queensland. 

The information they collect on our behalf as part of this project between now and the end of May 2023 will be used by NQPHN for planning purposes and will remain confidential. 

HWQ will be in touch with primary care providers in North Queensland via telephone and/or email shortly inviting you to participate in the project; some providers may have already received this correspondence.  

Participating in the project will take approximately 10 minutes and can be done online.  

We appreciate primary care providers have many demands on their time, particularly at this time of the year, but hope you will participate in this important workforce mapping project.   

Twenty-five “excited” first year health students have taken part in the first of three Health Workforce Queensland’s (HWQ's) GROW Rural Programs on the Atherton Tablelands with the aim of encouraging them to return and work in the region.

The program is focused on ensuring remote, rural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities have access to highly skilled health professionals when and where they need them, now and into the future. It is supported by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) over the next three years.

GROW Rural NQ presents first-year medical, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, and allied health students with a unique experience to develop familiarity and a deeper understanding of the potential of a professional and personal life they could have working in rural Queensland.

By cultivating strong connections with the health workforce community and the broader community, the GROW Rural program encourages health students to return to rural communities for their clinical placements and to consider rural practice as a future career opportunity.

HWQ Future Workforce Team Leader Meredith Connor said the students visited Atherton, Ravenshoe, and Mareeba.

“Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre welcomed the students with fantastic cultural activities including traditional dance and an art workshop in which the students painted boomerangs and clapsticks,” said Ms Connor.

She said the activities over the three days included:

• Ravenshoe and Atherton Talking Circles with local community residents and health professionals who shared their personal and professional journeys
• skill sessions based on the 1987 Gillies Range fatal bus crash disaster scenario, rotating the students through the patient journey from first responder to ED, followed by rehabilitation, psychological wellbeing and a specific suturing session
• Mareeba families billeted the GROW Rural students on a Saturday night which allowed the students to experience what it was like to live rurally and shared a community meal at the Ant Hill Hotel
• a visit to Granite Gorge Nature Park to enjoy nature and the wildlife.

“We also had local high school and sixth year JCU students volunteer as casualties and look forward to connecting with them again next year,” said Ms Connor.

“The skill session facilitators who so generously shared their time, knowledge, skills, and passion made the sessions the highlight of the day.  

“It was great to experience how engaged the communities became with GROW Rural over the course of the weekend and their eagerness to be part of next year’s event.”

Wesley Ruff, who is studying nutrition and dietetics at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, said he “loved being introduced to the difference between living in the rural community and the workforce”.

“I think there is a lot more that goes into everything than actually meets the public eye and that’s important for individuals such as ourselves to be exposed to,” said Mr Ruff.

Kacey Lynch, who is a psychology student at James Cook University in Townsville, said GROW NQ “was such an amazing opportunity to meet new people, both professionals and peers”.

“I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in rural practice and getting to practise some skills firsthand,” said Ms Lynch.

HWQ CEO Chris Mitchell said HWQ was delighted to take the GROW Rural Program to North Queensland following the success of the program in Central Queensland and Southwest Queensland.

“It was great to see such enthusiasm from our future remote and rural health workforce and we are so pleased that we are able to partner with NQPHN and work with the communities and key stakeholders in Northern Queensland to provide workforce solutions,” said Mr Mitchell. NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said the program involved students making commitments for three years with all travel, accommodation, and catering covered by HWQ.

“We hope after qualifying, some, if not many, of the students will be encouraged to return to these rural communities and provide vital professional health services,” Ms Whyte said.

Picture caption: Seven of the GROW Rural students (from left) Savindie Abeynayak, Louis Huynh, Maddy Harris, Elliot Hunt, Caitlin Brims, Karif Hung, and Jessica Lanza on the Atherton Tablelands.

About HWQ

HWQ is a not for profit, non-Government Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) for primary health workforce in Queensland, focused on making sure remote, rural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities have access to highly skilled health professionals when and where they need them, now and into the future.

Health Workforce Queensland Vision is to ensure an optimal health workforce to enhance the health of Queensland communities.

To achieve this Vision, Our Purpose is to create sustainable health workforce solutions that meet the needs of remote, rural, regional and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities challenged by a supply shortage of health professionals.

Facilitated by Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS), the forum provided participants with the opportunity to review and contribute insight into what is required for THHS to create a sustainable rural doctor workforce across its sites; including Palm Island, Magnetic Island, Ayr, Ingham, Charters Towers, Hughenden, and Richmond, along with Townsville University Hospital as a training facility.

NQPHN CEO Robin Whyte said Northern Queensland Primary Health Network is working collaboratively with all members of the Northern Queensland health sector to address issues of health workforce shortages.

“Being involved in forums of this nature allows NQPHN to listen and contribute along with other representatives within the region and highlights the importance of the sector working together to inform solutions” said Robin.

The forum was well supported with broad representation from within the health sector. This included attendees from:

• THHS Executive and Board
• Rural Hospitals executives
• National Rural Health Commissioner, Ruth Stewart
• Queensland Office of Rural and Remote Health representatives
• Consumers
• Medical students
• Senior and junior doctors, medical superintendents and GPs
• James Cook University GP training
• James Cook University College of Medicine and Dentistry (including the Dean)
• NQPHN
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
• Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway (QRGP)
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
• Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ).

If you would like to receive more information about the workforce forum, please contact Dr Matthew Bryant, Acting DMS Rural Hospitals Service Group, Indigenous Health Service Division Townsville Hospital and Health Service on email Matthew.Bryant2@health.qld.gov.au

Photo 1: Dr Paula Heggarty - GP and Principal medical educator in JCU GP Training and assessment coordinator for year 4 in the College of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr Konrad Kangru - GP, NQPHN Independent Chair of the Clinical Council, Co-Chair of the Statewide Rural and Remote Clinical Network, and Queensland representative for RACGP Rural Council, Dr Ewen McPhee – GP, life member of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ), representative for the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), and Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, and James McNulty – Queensland Health, Office of Rural and Remote Health.

Photo 2:  Dr Emily Vagg - Medical Superintendent Ingham Hospital, Robin Whyte - NQPHN CEO, Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart - National Rural Health Commissioner, Kieran Keyes - THHS Chief Executive, Ruth Heather - Service Group Director, Rural Health Service Group THHS, and Dr Matthew Bryant - Acting DMS Rural Hospitals Service Group, Indigenous Health Service Division THHS, and Senior Lecturer James Cook University.

Member for Leichhardt Mr Warren Entsch MP announced on Friday (18 February) that the Cairns region has been provided Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status under exceptional circumstances.

The announcement came following an application by three local clinics for an exceptional circumstances review as well as advocacy for the change by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) in collaboration with Health Workforce Queensland.

The Australian Government uses the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) indicator to identify distribution challenges in Australia’s medical workforce.

Factors considered for DPA status include patient flows using Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) data, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) demographic data, the size of the GP workforce, the location and number of practices, and the region’s size and geography.

Under the system, general practices in places with DPA status can employ international medical graduates and Australian-trained bonded doctors who are required to work in priority areas to access the MBS.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said NQPHN welcomed the announcement by Mr Entsch as it will assist local practices to recruit GPs.

“The change to Cairns’ DPA status is a great outcome for the region and reflects what we and general practice have been advocating for,” said Ms Whyte.

“The issue of GP and other primary care workforce shortages is arguably the most significant problem facing primary health care delivery in rural and remote Australia, and is an issue that NQPHN takes very seriously.

“Practices in Cairns are experiencing GP shortages and patients are regularly waiting weeks to see a GP, some are even closing their doors to new patients.

“With the opening of the borders, and emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant in Queensland, we are seeing more and more cases of COVID-19 in the Far North and more pressure being put on our general practice workforce.

“DPA status for the Cairns region provides support to practices by giving them access to a larger recruitment pool to fill gaps in staffing and increase their capacity to provide services to residents.

“I’d like to thank Mr Entsch for their support to obtain DPA status for Cairns.

“It’s also important to recognise and thank general practice for providing exceptional care to residents at this very busy time and with stretched resources.”

Addressing inequities in access to high quality medical care has been a longstanding challenge in Australia and the Government recognises the importance of providing all Australians with timely access to quality, safe, and affordable health care services, no matter where they live.

To assist in attracting and retaining medical professionals in regional, rural, and remote areas, the 2019–20 Budget provided $62.2 million to commence a National Rural Generalist Pathway (the Pathway). Rural Generalists are general practitioners (GPs) who provide primary care services, emergency medicine, and have training in additional skills like obstetrics, anaesthetics, or mental health services. The Pathway recognises the extra requirements and skills of rural generalists and supports them to meet the diverse health needs of regional, rural, and remote communities. Rural Generalists complement and work alongside rural GPs to increase local access to a wider range of specialist medical services.

The Australian Government is working with the state and territory governments and with the GP Colleges to support the implementation of the Pathway.

The Department of Health has worked with the National Rural Health Commissioner, Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart and with practicing Rural Generalist Dr Preston Cardelli to develop a video to highlight elements of rural practice. We hope the video will provide insight to medical students and junior doctors who might be considering a rural career.

Watch the video here.