Recruitment Programs and Campaigns

It has been another busy year for the Health Workforce Solutions (HWS) team. We've collaborated closely with practices and ACCHSs to identify, monitor, and address critical and emerging workforce challenges. Guided by our Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA) findings, ongoing liaison with Primary Health Networks (PHNs), and the monitoring of high-need areas and practices at risk, the HWS team has worked diligently to prioritise vacancies and achieve positive outcomes.

Recruitment: Our efforts resulted in an increased number of employment placements in remote and rural locations, enhancing access to essential services for these communities. This financial year, 69 directly recruited health professionals commenced in their roles in rural Queensland, including 45 general practitioners, 16 allied health professionals and eight nurses.

As part of HWQ’s key priorities, considerable effort, ongoing support and workforce solutions have been provided to ACCHSs. This has resulted in six health professionals, four allied health professionals and two nurses, commencing with Aboriginal Health Services this year, ultimately enhancing access to health services for our Indigenous communities.

Overall, 175 health professionals have benefited from our recruitment services, workforce programs, relocation packages and grants. Our tailored approach, designed to understand and meet the unique needs of health professionals, has received very positive feedback.

Meet two of our dedicated rural health professionals Meghan Maguire, Occupational Therapist, Dalby and Rachel Brady-Jones, Speech Pathologist, Chinchilla who have been supported by HWQ on their journey to rural Queensland. They share their inspiring stories and offer valuable advice for those considering a move to rural practice.

Locum services: HWQ provides essential locum GP services to support permanent rural GPs, giving them the opportunity for professional development and much-needed breaks from their demanding roles. In the 2023-2024 financial year, we successfully covered 317 locum days for rural practices. Notably, 284 of those days were dedicated to MM 4-6 locations, ensuring the continuity of care and maintaining access to services in some of Queensland's most remote and rural areas.

Rural Workforce Enhancement Campaign: Through our collaboration with PHNs, we remain dedicated to addressing the health workforce needs of our remote and rural communities. Our ongoing partnership with NQPHN continued with a successful Rural Workforce Enhancement Campaign, which we have been running since 2019. This financial year, we supported 28 health professionals to relocate to North Queensland, increasing access to essential workforce for the region.