General News
16 July, 2025
Program seeks to attract health workers
A GROUP of 23 first-year multidisciplinary health students will visit Atherton, Yungaburra and Mareeba, as part of a program that seeks to attract new health workers to the region.
This marks the second GROW Rural Program cohort to engage with the communities, continuing efforts to build a sustainable locally connected health workforce for the region.
GROW Rural is an initiative of Health Workforce Queensland’s (HWQ), a not-for-profit, non-government Rural Workforce Agency for primary health workforce in Queensland.It focuses on ensuring remote, rural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have access to highly skilled health professionals when and where they need them.
HWQ works closely with local health services, professionals, and community members to shape the GROW Rural program which offers students in medicine, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, paramedicine, and allied health a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in rural life.
Through on-the-ground experiences and meaningful community engagement, students gain valuable insights into both the professional and personal benefits of rural practice.
The program fosters long-term relationships and supports participants to return to the area for clinical placements, and ultimately, consider rural health careers in the region.
From the first GROW Rural NQ cohort, nine medical, nursing and allied health students have returned to undertake university placements, with a further five students looking to return over the next 12 months.
Two occupational therapy students who did their eight-week placement with The Whole Child, a paediatric practice in Atherton, have enjoyed maintaining their connection with the practice by working remotely as therapy assistants.
HWQ Future Workforce’s Meredith Connor said it was rewarding to watch the positive effect of local communities building their future health workforce.
“This year, a local high school graduate who participated in GROW Rural skills sessions over the past two years has been inspired to take the next step — joining GROW Rural NQ as a first-year paramedic student,” she said.
During this years program, students will be introduced to local communities, healthcare services and health professionals through activities including attending a clinical skill session based on a diabetes scenario at the Atherton Health Hub; participating in a “Suspicion to Stitch” skills session where the students will explore skin cancer detection and suturing skills at The Doctor House; and hearing from Mareeba GP and certified life coach, Dr Sarah Smith, who will share her personal journey and the lessons she wishes she’d learned as a health student.
North Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) chief executive officer Ben Tooth said growing a strong and sustainable health workforce in regional, rural, and remote northern Queensland was essential to ensure a healthy future for all who call the region home.
“We know when students experience the impact of a rural practice firsthand, they’re more likely to return and build their careers and lives in these areas,” he said.
“We are proud to continue partnering with Health Workforce Queensland to deliver practical long-term workforce solutions that support healthcare in northern Queensland.”
Billet families wanted
THE call is out for a bit of Mareeba hospitality when a group of healthcare students visit the region on Saturday 26 July.
Billet families will receive $100 per student to cover incidentals.
They will be required to accommodate two (or more, if possible) students for Saturday, 26 July; collect their billets from Mareeba Medical Clinic at 3.25pm; provide transport and join the students, as GROW Rural guests, for dinner at the Uncle Distillery, Walkamin from 6 pm-8.30pm; and provide breakfast and/or morning tea on Sunday morning before transporting them to the Mareeba Heritage Museum & Visitor Information Centre carpark at 10 am.
For further information, contact Future Workforce coordinator Evelyn Henry by email: ehenry@healthworkforce.com.au
