Doctors offered $70,000 to re-locate to Queensland after police officers are offered $20,000 to move
The Queensland government is offering up to $70,000 for doctors to move to the state in a desperate bid to tackle the state’s staff shortage.
Up to $20,000 is available for a range of health care workers moving anywhere in the state, with an additional $50,000 up for grabs for physicians moving to regional or rural areas.
The announcement by Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk comes a day after the state marked incentives to cover relocation costs for interstate and international police officers.
“With global competition for healthcare workers at an all-time high, our government is committed to doing everything it can to attract and retain frontline healthcare workers,” Ms Palaszczuk said in Cairns on Wednesday.
In a bid to bolster public sector staff, the Queensland government is offering up to $70,000 for health workers to move to the state, the day after it offered police officers $20,000 to do the same
Up to $20,000 is available for a range of health professionals moving anywhere in the state, with an additional $50,000 up for grabs for physicians moving to regional or rural areas
“Our government is committed to more frontline health workers across Queensland.
“We have hired over 17,000 additional frontline workers across Queensland since 2015 and we want to see this grow.”
Under the scheme, interstate and international health workers can now move to Queensland, including the South East, and receive a $10,000 incentive when they start.
After a year of work, another $10,000 is paid.
Eligible workers include doctors, nurses, specialists, dentists, and allied health professionals.
Doctors who move to rural or remote areas receive an additional $25,000 after three months and an additional $25,000 after a year.
This payment is available to those already working in Queensland.
Interstate and international doctors are eligible for both payments and benefit from an additional $70,000 if they move to Queensland.
Eligible workers include doctors, nurses, specialists, dentists, and allied health professionals
Boosting Queensland Health’s workforce meant authorities had to “think outside the box,” Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said.
“Innovative policies like this mean every dollar is working hard for the people of Queensland delivering the right care at the right time in the right place,” she said.
“We welcome health professionals to experience why we all love Queensland while building a new life with positive outcomes and peace of mind for our regional and remote communities.”
Ms D’ath was under fire for the state’s health care delivery following a 300-day birth bypass at Gladstone Hospital, which meant expectant mothers were transferred to Rockhampton Hospital, more than an hour away to give birth.
The minister promised that the maternity ward would be restored by the middle of the year.
On Tuesday, Queensland Police also announced a $90 million recruitment drive to address the police shortage.
It includes incentives such as paying up to $20,000 for police officer relocation expenses from the highway or overseas.
Up to 400 police recruits graduates with college degrees in psychology, criminology, social work, counseling or other human service-related fields can get $20,000 paid off their HECS debt.