From students on their first rural placement to GPs considering a sea change, Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is working to make northern Queensland a place where health professionals don’t just visit – they stay.
A year after the launch of NQPHN’s Strategic Plan 2025-2028 – and as workforce shortages continue to impact primary healthcare services across rural and remote communities – the organisation continues to work towards its Healthy Workforce priority area, backing it with a suite of practical initiatives designed to attract, train, and retain health professionals across the region.
NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth said supporting the workforce was the foundation of holistic healthcare across the region.
“Through supporting and encouraging the growth of a strong and skilled workforce, we are able to provide comprehensive, informed, and accessible primary healthcare services for northern Queensland residents,” Mr Tooth said.
“Whether it’s a psychologist, a podiatrist, or a GP looking to relocate, we are investing in all facets of our workforce to ensure care can be provided where it’s needed.”
Key NQPHN health workforce initiatives over the last 12 months include:
- Going North Student Placement Support Program: Provides rural placement bursaries to nursing, midwifery, allied health, and dentistry students completing placements in northern and remote primary healthcare settings. More than 45 student placements have been supported in the last 12 months.
- GROW Rural North Queensland Program: Brought together 25 university students from first year through to graduation, immersing them in Atherton Tablelands communities and connecting them with local health professionals. Following the 2025 event, 13 students expressed interest in employment opportunities in northern Queensland after graduation. Following the 2026 event and the second cohort of students introduced to the Atherton Tablelands communities we anticipate a number of practical placements to take place in the region.
- Maternal and Child Health Workforce Uplift Program (MCHUP): Across the program, we have supported 163 applications across disciplines including 41 GPs, 25 nurse/midwife, 10 chiropractors, four dietitians/nutritionists, 23 occupational therapists, 20 physiotherapists, seven psychologists, nine speech pathologists, and a range of other allied health and support workers.
- North Queensland Regional Clinical Societies: In partnership with James Cook University, delivered 15 CPD events across Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay, supporting 504 GPs with their professional development requirements while strengthening local networks.
- North Queensland Rural Workforce Enhancement Campaign: In partnership with Health Workforce Queensland, supported the relocation of 39 primary care professionals – including 21 GPs and 17 allied health professionals – with funding for relocation, registration costs, and rental assistance. Over the last four years, NQPHN has supported the relocation of 100 health professionals through this campaign.
- Student Social Workers Placement in General Practice Project: Expanded to general practices in Townsville and Cairns, resulting in five social workers being employed in practice through the partnership with James Cook University.
- Virtual Integrated Practice (VIP) Program: Links urban or regional GPs with other regional and remote practices for a minimum of one day a week support via telehealth and one week face-to face every six months. The program is currently operating across six practices in Cairns, Cardwell, Charters Towers, Ingham, Cannonvale, and Mossman and has delivered 5,241 occasions of service in 2026.
- Live and Work in Paradise Campaign: Showcases the advantages of living and working in northern Queensland through the eyes of healthcare professionals, highlighting relocation opportunities across rural and regional areas. We have produced 12 videos.
- Workforce Capability Uplift Initiatives: Through the provision of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training and clinical upskilling, NQPHN has provided access to 93 events leading to CPD and upskilling of more than 1,700 health providers and support staff in the last financial year to date alone.
Mr Tooth said the results reflected what was possible when workforce development was treated as a genuine priority.
“Northern Queensland needs health professionals who are connected to the community and committed to the long term,” he said.
“These programs are about more than filling vacancies – they’re about building a workforce that our communities can rely on, now and into the future.”
To learn more about NQPHN’s workforce programs visit the website.