We have a HWNA Survey Comp Winner!

We are excited to announce the winner of our annual HWNA Survey Competition! Congratulations Michaela Mulder! And thank you for providing your views on the remote and rural health workforce in your community. We are excited to hear that you have your new iPad up and running.

Each year Health Workforce Queensland undertake a state-wide assessment of the remote and rural primary health care workforce, the Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA). This survey is one way of gathering data directly from the source so we can identify and respond to short, medium and long-term issues facing health practitioners in remote and rural Queensland. 

Everyone who participates in the survey not only gets to have their say and provide valuable on the ground information on their area, but they also have the chance to win an Apple iPad. 

This year's winner, Michaela Mulder, is an Exercise Physiologist in Longreach, and has just finished her first year living and working in this rural Queensland town.

Michaela grew up in Redlands, South East Queensland, and studied Exercise Physiology at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. She worked for a few years in the Sunshine Coast region before an opportunity came about to go rural. North and West Remote Health offered a role with a lot of enticing incentives including salary, professional development and career progression. That and the promise of a new adventure and a laid-back lifestyle, led Michaela to Longreach.

Michaela says, ''My role is still very generalised, but I enjoy working with and helping people who have been diagnosed with cancer, people with disability and aged care.'' Her favourite thing about her role is, ''hearing all my client’s crazy life stories and helping people create a healthy relationship with exercise to achieve their goals or live a healthier lifestyle.''

Michaela's advice to new graduates or health professionals considering a rural move? "Absolutely give it a go! You make a few sacrifices (by living far from your family & friends, no Kmart ☹) but you will gain so many unique life experiences and gain such an appreciation for the outback and the people who keep it alive.''

The competition has now closed, however the survey is still open, so if you are a health care professional in rural and remote Queensland click the link below to share your views. 

HWNA Survey​