KEEP IN TOUCH
(07) 3105 7800
Turrbal and Jagera Country
Level 4, 348 Edward Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
From Friday 11 October to Sunday 13 October, 18 health students from GROW Rural South West Queensland (GROW Rural SWQ) will visit Roma and St George. This will be the second annual rural immersion event for the 2023 cohort to shape their rural career journey into employment as early career graduates in SWQ communities. Health Workforce Queensland’s GROW Rural program is co-designed and facilitated by local health professionals and communities, and supported by our Event Partner, Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN).
GROW Rural SWQ is a unique workforce solution program which offers health students interested in rural healthcare the opportunity to immerse themselves in the communities of Roma, St George and Charleville to experience firsthand the advantages working in rural health can offer, as well as gaining insight into the health workforce challenges faced by rural communities.
The building of structured pathways into local early career graduate employment for the GROW Rural students will continue as the students return to the SWQ communities for their clinical placements from 2025-2026 and through partnering with local primary healthcare settings, health services and communities. By inspiring the GROW Rural SWQ students to consider rural practice as a future career option, SWQ actively contributes to increasing their region’s health workforce capacity.
During the 2024 GROW Rural SWQ annual event, students will:
Shadow health professionals at Vital Health, Maranoa Medical Centre, Roma Family Dental, Queensland Ambulance Service, and Roma Hospital.
Spend time with Rohan Ballon who will share his journey working with sheep dogs, drawing parallels between dog training and rural health to highlight the need for trust, communication, and teamwork.
Participate, with local high school students, in an emergency skill session scenario facilitated by local health professionals from St George Medical Centre, Southern Queensland Rural Health, and St George Hospital.
Visit the heritage listed Anchorage Homestead, where co-owner and St George Community Wellbeing Centre Facility Manager, Robyn Cross will provide morning tea.
Be billeted by St George families who will join us for dinner at Riversands Wines.
Health Workforce Queensland CEO, Chris Mitchell said “The GROW Rural program is successful in providing practical exposure to a rural lifestyle and professional opportunities which hopefully leads to a local job and rewarding career in rural Queensland.”
The purpose of the GROW Rural SWQ program is to encourage the next generation of healthcare professionals to consider working in areas of health workforce need and experience the unique and rewarding lifestyle that South West Queensland offers.
Supported by:
