Meet Rosie, our new Health Workforce Connector in Gladstone

We are excited to introduce Rosie Barton as HWQ’s new Health Workforce Connector in Gladstone. Rosie has a strong passion for both Gladstone and healthcare, making her the perfect fit for this role!

Rosie eagerly started her new position in December, and her focus is on developing a clear pathway for university health students to begin their careers in Gladstone as early-career graduates. Initially, this will begin by facilitating clinical placement and employment opportunities in Gladstone for university students by working directly with primary health care settings, universities and community organisations. Importantly, the Connector will also act as a community concierge, supporting the professional and personal needs of students, early career graduates, interns, registrars, and new-to the-area health professionals with the intention of facilitating their integration into the community, thereby contributing to the retention of the Gladstone health workforce.

The Connector role is an initiative of the Gladstone Health Workforce Collaborative. With representatives from local universities, Gladstone Regional Council, Health Workforce Queensland, community organisations and community, the Collaborative’s role is to identify, prioritise and mutually action activities that address health student placements and graduate opportunities across all disciplines in Gladstone. This follows a recommendation from the Gladstone Health Plan to increase student placement opportunities in Gladstone, helping to contribute to the development of a sustainable health workforce in Gladstone.

Rosie recently shared a little bit about herself, and we can't wait for you to get to know her better.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Health Workforce Queensland team as the first Health Workforce Connector here in Gladstone. I’ve been in Gladstone for almost 8 years now and I am so passionate about our town. Gladstone quickly became my home. From the beautiful beaches of Tannum Sands and Agnes Water to the country pubs and rodeos of Calliope and Miriam Vale, this town has such a vibe to it, and I love our community spirit.

A bit about me, my journey in healthcare began at just 17 when I started my started my Diploma of Nursing. Over the past decade, I have gained invaluable experience working as a nurse across private and public Aged Care, Transitional Care, Mental Health and at multiple Blood Donation clinics throughout Queensland. With my own experiences of navigating the healthcare system and student placements, I hope to bring a unique perspective to my role. My passion has always been for healthcare, to me, there is nothing more rewarding!

I’m looking forward to working with our existing health care providers and connecting our healthcare students to the placements here in Gladstone that will best suit their professional goals. Together we can grow our healthcare services, and I can’t wait to be a part of the journey in 2025.

Fun fact: I love animals, I have two dogs named Sapphire and Moana, and two horses Sunny and Murphy and in my time off you’ll find me spending time with them.”

Welcome, Rosie! With her background in healthcare and commitment to supporting early-career graduates, we're excited to see all that 2025 has in store. Stay tuned for more updates as Rosie works to make a positive impact on the Gladstone community!

Connect with Rosie Barton
Health Workforce Connector (Gladstone)
07 3105 7829 or Email