A first of its kind recruitment drive could help solve the severe doctor shortages in remote parts of the country. In outback Queensland, junior doctors are being offered dual-placements, and the results could benefit the future workforce and the communities they service.
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00:00Taking to the sky.
00:04This is the board and these green pins represent where RFDS has been this year.
00:10A partnership between North West Queensland health providers that's opening doors for medical staff.
00:16The junior docs on the training program work half time with us,
00:20so they experience the hospital side of the clinical experience
00:24and the other half of their time is with the Royal Flying Doctors.
00:27An idea that took flight from engaging with staff.
00:30The unique offering is already sought after.
00:33Yeah, there are two positions that we're rolling out initially as part of this program.
00:38At the other end they'll come out as rural generalists,
00:41which is the whole aim of what we're trying to achieve here.
00:44After four years in Mount Isa, Dr Brianna Smith is the first to embrace the new role.
00:49You really feel like you're making a difference.
00:51I think the job satisfaction is really high when you get to see your patients
00:56and know them really well as part of community members, but also as patients that you're treating.
01:00By taking doctors to some of the most rural and remote corners of the state,
01:04it's hoped the opportunity to work with such clinical diversity will attract staff from near and far.
01:10It gives the opportunity to see what medicine is like out here,
01:14that they're more likely to stay and feel part of the community
01:18and more likely to retain those doctors.
01:20Early markers of success are promising, with a long list of trainees wanting to join the program.
01:26So to have boots on the ground in those areas,
01:28and then to be able to come back to a bigger centre like the hospital in Mount Isa,
01:33just provides the best of both worlds from a training perspective.
01:36Gaining wings for health care.