Rural Queenslanders will be able to see a doctor easier, following the Australian Government’s $2.4 million investment in an innovative program to support stronger rural healthcare.
The new Single Employer Model (SEM) trial will support up to six GP and rural generalist registrars’ training in Queensland’s Charleville region. The trial will be delivered by QAIHC in partnership with Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health (CWAATSICH).
Registrars’ training will be packaged with high level cultural mentoring and support, to allow them to build strong connections with the community and expertise in delivering comprehensive primary health care for First Nations people.
Under the trial, GP and rural generalist registrars have the option of being employed as salaried employees. This would allow them to have a single employer while placed in GP practices in rural and regional locations across the state, instead of having to change employers every six or 12 months with each new placement.
By providing them with guaranteed income and entitlements such as annual leave, parental leave, sick leave and other remuneration and benefits received by doctors working in hospital settings, the SEM will make working in rural and general practice more attractive as well as improving recruitment and retention of GPs in regional and rural communities.
This will give medical graduates the best opportunity to build their careers while supporting the medical workforce in regional and rural areas, making it easier for people in Charleville and surrounding regions to see a doctor.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney MP said the SEM trial was the first to be led and delivered by an ACCHO and aligned with the government’s commitment to Closing the Gap.
CWAATSICH CEO and QAIHC Board Regional Director Sheryl Lawton added: “We’re facing a critical issue with GP shortages in rural, regional and remote areas like Charleville, and it’s something that requires innovative solutions.
“To attract the new generation of doctors, we need to rethink our approach. It’s about creating an environment where these young professionals feel supported, valued, and connected to the communities they serve.
“In Charleville, the need for a strong medical workforce in primary care is crucial. We cannot afford to see our families and Elders leaving the community for preventable health reasons. This pilot project is a first for community control and is an opportunity to bring healthcare back to the heart of our communities, ensuring that our people receive the care they need, where they need it. It’s about more than just healthcare; it’s about keeping our communities strong, together, and thriving.”
QAIHC Chairman Matthew Cooke said: “Building a GP workforce that understands the ACCHO model of care and the importance of true connection with the community is not just essential to Closing the Gap, it’s transformative.
“The Single Employer Model trial offers registrars the stability and continuity they need to thrive, and it’s a model that reflects
the values of our communities — where relationships, respect, and trust are paramount. By embedding registrars within ACCHOs, we’re nurturing a future workforce that will carry forward the legacy of culturally safe, community-driven healthcare.”
