Rural Workforce Agencies in every Australian state and the Northern Territory work with rural and remote communities to support quality, sustained health care.
Each RWA supports GPs, nursing, midwifery and allied health specialists, to make the transition to country practice. We deliver a range of Commonwealth-funded programs, grants and subsidies. We also offer a variety of professional development programs and events, plus wellbeing and social initiatives to value-add to a successful and rewarding life in Australia’s beautiful regions. Full offerings are available on each RWA website.
Programs
Rural Health Workforce Support Activity (RHWSA)
The aim of the RHWSA is to improve the capacity, quality, distribution and mix of the health workforce to better meet current and future needs of rural and remote communities.
In each State and Territory, Rural Workforce Agencies identify priorities through an annual Health Workforce Needs Assessment, supplemented by ongoing workforce planning and engagement at a local level. Tailor-made solutions are implemented to support communities to access the services they need, which can include:
- Career promotion for interested undergraduates and early career health professionals
- Practice support to build the viability and sustainability of the service
- Localised workforce planning to ensure an appropriate mix of professionals
- Recruitment – including orientation and induction and case management of the individual and their family to settle and thrive in the community
- Training and development to meet professional standards and community need
- Community engagement and co-designing of new models to ensure continuity of service in times of transition
Health Workforce Scholarships Program (HWSP)
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in rural and remote Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice.
The HWSP is available to medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, dental and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals providing primary health care in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) sector, non-government organisations and private practice.
The HWSP has been designed to address the priority health needs of communities by funding the training and upskilling activities of rural health practitioners across Australia.
The Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health, administered as a consortium by the Rural Workforce Agencies. Each state or territory is guided by its Health Workforce Needs Assessments and any other available jurisdictional data to determine the priority professions and/or fields of study it will fund and manages its own funding applications.
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Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP)
The Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP) was introduced as part of the 2023-24 Budget Strengthening Medicare Initiative, replacing the More Doctors for Rural Australia Program (MDRAP). The PFP is designed to support non-vocationally registered doctors in gaining valuable general practice experience before entering a GP College-led Fellowship pathway. The program also aims to improve access to GPs in Distribution Priority Areas (DPA) and provide recruitment opportunities for general practices in rural and underserved areas.
The program is administered by the Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) in each state and territory, under the guidance of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC).
For more information or assistance with seeking employment, we encourage you to make contact with the Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) in the relevant state or territory here- contact us.
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National Rural Health Student Network
The National Rural Health Student Network (NRHSN) represents the future of rural health in Australia. It is the only multi-disciplinary student health network in the country, bringing together more than 10,000 members across 29 university Rural Health Clubs in all states and territories. Its members include students studying medicine, nursing, and allied health who are passionate about pursuing rural health careers.
The NRHSN has two key aims:
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To provide a voice for students who are committed to improving health outcomes for rural and remote Australians
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To promote rural health careers to tertiary students and encourage future health professionals to work in rural and remote settings
The NRHSN and its Rural Health Clubs organise rural experience weekends, career information sessions, and professional development opportunities. These clubs also offer a supportive social network for students during university and while on rural placements. The NRHSN leadership advocates for student needs, including increased access to rural placements and training support.
The program is administered by the Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) in each state and territory, under the guidance of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC).
For more information, please contact your state or territory’s Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) below or visit the National Rural Health Student Network website.
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