We offer benefits and opportunities that you may not get in short term placements, including:

  • community engagement initiatives
  • paid employment
  • free accommodation
  • financial bursaries.

Getting involved with the community

Become part of the community and get involved with local activities and events. You’ll get a real sense of belonging and establish long lasting connections.

Some of these may include:

  • farm stays
  • agricultural shows
  • horse racing
  • rodeos
  • fishing competitions
  • joining a sports team.

If your region is supported by a University Department of Rural Health (UDRH), they’ll be able to link you with local groups and organisations, no matter what university you're from.

Hear from our students

Learn more about student experiences and why they describe it as the ‘best experience I’ve ever had and the best choice I have ever made.’

Read stories from students who share their rural placement experiences on the Southern Queensland Rural Health website.

See the fun had by students in Mt Isa on the James Cook University Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health Instagram page (@crrh_jcu).

Share the passion for rural and remote healthcare with staff and students on placement in Emerald, Central Queensland.

Listen to our students and clinicians talk about their experience working together in the Torres and Cape.

Duration: 01:37

I think a lot of the time health can look like doctors and nurses.

They get a chance to get really embedded in the community and see what life would be like here.

Being a remote health clinician, it's fantastic. You work amongst a close knit
team.

Everybody's willing to help you. There's people who will problem solve with you and although it's smaller, there's very much a spirit of always working together.

I saw how being flexible with a health care approach can be really valuable for a community.

The way they practice out here is very collaborative.

We see GP referrals, we see hospital emergency department referrals. It's just a really broad spectrum of presentations that we see here, so it's always interesting.

The outreach work that we do is typically in places that are very hard to get to otherwise.

It's a beautiful place to work and a beautiful community and very lucky to work here.

We've been able to go fishing, boating and just exploring, doing lots of outdoor activities. It's been great.

Come with an open heart and an open mind, and your ears wide open to learn as much as you can about community and I guess the way things are may be done in smaller places.

What a difference you can make to people in remote and rural areas.

Paid employment

If there are jobs available and you have the right skills or experience, you may be able to get a job while doing your placement.

Make sure you include your preference for paid employment when you apply for a placement. You can also include your past work experience in the comments section of the expression of interest form.

Potential employers will need your current resume at least 2 to 3 months before you start your placement.

Rural placement bursary

If your placement is in a region supported by a University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) or Health Workforce Queensland, you may be eligible for a rural health bursary. Depending on the location, this is $100 per week for up to 20 weeks. The maximum amount is $2,000 per student.

University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) information

You can read more about the local UDRH on their website below or contact them directly.

Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH)

Central Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health


Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health (CRRH)

Other supports

If your placement is in Torres and Cape regions, you can find out more about the Going Rural program on the Health Workforce Queensland website.

Student accommodation

You can get free accommodation through UDRHs while you’re doing your RIPPAH placement. You can book a room by contacting the placement coordinator at the UDRH. Make sure you do this as early as you can. The local hospital and health service may also be able to arrange free accommodation for you.

Take a virtual tour through the accommodation at the following UDRHs.

If your application is successful, we’ll send you more information about accommodation.

Last updated: May 2025

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