Rural and regional placements

Have you ever thought about what life is like in regional and rural Australia?

Have you ever wondered how people who live in these communities access healthcare services? Why not experience this first-hand by undertaking a life-changing rural placement!

We are committed to providing you with the opportunity to broaden your horizons and experience a rural placement supported by our Faculty’s University Department of Rural Health, Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) as well as a range of other partners throughout Queensland.

Follow SQRH on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to see what our students have been up to!

What our students say about their rural placements

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my clinical placement at Charleville and I’m grateful for the support of SQRH. To be honest I hadn’t thought about taking up a rural health career before coming out to Charleville but now I definitely would consider it. The experience was brilliant and incredibly diverse – I worked in wards, in the emergency department, attending visits with the nurse navigator, going to the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) base with ambulance staff and so much more”
Andy, UQ Nursing student

“I decided to apply for a rural placement because I was seeking a unique placement experience and couldn’t turn down the amazing opportunity! I knew the rural placement would push me and allow me to step outside of my comfort zone, helping me to grow, learn and educate myself. As well as providing me with a range of skills with the broader scope of practice seen in rural areas, compared to metro.”
Barbara, UQ Occupational Therapy student

”When you go on rural placement, even though it’s daunting, especially if you’ve grown up in the city, you find that the community out here is supportive, friendly and most importantly, genuine. You learn to grown up and get the chance to see the world through a completely different lens and your perspective on a lot of things is seen through fresh eyes.”
Anabella, UQ Speech Pathology student

Support for your rural placement

Accommodation

Southern Queensland Rural Health

If you’re undertaking a rural placement in Southern Queensland, you may be eligible for free accommodation either through Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) or your allocated Qld Health facility.

SQRH accommodation

SQRH provides fully furnished and equipped accommodation options in Charleville, Chinchilla, Goondiwindi, Kingaroy, Roma, St George and Toowoomba.

All students who apply for accommodation through SQRH need to apply at least 6 weeks before placements commence, and accommodation is not guaranteed so apply early to avoid disappointment. Further information about accommodation available, eligibility criteria and instructions for how to apply can be found on the SQRH accommodation webpage.

Queensland Health accommodation

Are you placed in a Qld Health facility in Southern Qld? If so, you may be eligible for free accommodation and you should check with Qld Health first before booking alternative accommodation.

To book Qld Health accommodation in the South West region (eg. Quilpie, Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Charleville, Roma, St George) you should contact SWHHS_Student_Placements@health.qld.gov.au.

To book Qld Health accommodation in the Darling Downs region (eg. Chinchilla, Kingaroy, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Stanthorpe) you should check with your Placement Manager or SQRH for the relevant Qld Health accommodation contact.

Accommodation options in other areas of Qld

Depending on where you are placed, there may be student accommodation available to you. Check with your Placement Manager as they may be able to offer assistance with this depending on the location.

Financial support

UQ provides financial hardship assistance to eligible students.
Students undertaking a placement of at least 8 weeks’ duration in the Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) region are eligible for a weekly bursary up to a maximum of $2000. Apply for the bursary via the SQRH website.
The UQ Student Union provides placement bursaries for students who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of their work-integrated learning placement.
Towards Rural and Outback Health Professionals in Queensland (TROHPIQ) offers student scholarships, conferences and bursaries.
Ask your Placement Manager whether your School offers financial support for students undertaking rural placements.

There are also many other external organisations that provide financial support via bursaries and competitively awarded scholarships to students undertaking rural placements:

Queensland Health are offering the Nursing and Midwifery Regional, Rural and Remote Student Placement Allowance from 2024 onwards.
CRANAplus (peak professional body for the remote and isolated health workforce) offers awards, scholarships and grants to support the development of nursing and allied health students.
NAFEA National Association of Field Experience Administrators rural placement scholarship program.
ACEN Australian Collaborative Education Network student work-integrated learning scholarships. Read Lisa’s story of how she was able to undertake a placement in Mt Isa with the help of an ACEN scholarship.
QCWA Queensland Country Women’s Association offers student bursaries in disciplines such as midwifery and nutrition.
Rural Health Pro also provides a summary of scholarships available to students undertaking rural placements.
Some professional associations and other organisations also offer financial support to students enrolled in specific disciplines. Ask your Placement Manager whether your profession offers financial support for students undertaking rural placements.

Other ways you can access rural placement support

Join Towards Rural and Outback Health Professionals in Queensland (TROHPIQ). TROHPIQ is Queensland’s student-run rural health club dedicated to helping medical, nursing and allied health students experience the unique career and lifestyle opportunities to be found beyond the big town of Brisbane.
Register with Country Universities Centre (CUC). CUC is an organisation that provides secure spaces where you can focus on your studies while you’re on a rural placement and they have centres located in Roma, St George and Dirranbandi, Goondiwindi as well as in other Australian states and territories. The centres offer high-speed internet, printing and copying facilities as well as desktop computers, video conferencing and other study spaces.
Health Workforce Queensland supports students via a number of initiatives that provide you with the opportunity to undertake activities and experience the possibilities of a rural career.

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Get in touch

SQRH, our own University Department of Rural Health, can also answer any questions you might have about undertaking a rural placement in Southern Queensland.

For placements in other areas of Queensland, contact your School or Placement Manager for further information, or send HaBS Placement support an email (please include your discipline) and we’ll direct your question to the relevant area.

HaBS Placements support
e: habsplacements@uq.edu.au