The Office of Rural Health was established in 1997 with the purpose of managing the Queensland Health Rural Scholarship Scheme. Since then we have grown and now manage several Scholarship and Subsidy Schemes as well as other workforce initiatives designed to combat workforce shortages in rural and regional areas.
The Office of Rural Health, situated in Roma, South West Queensland, is a unit within the Office of Rural and Remote Health Branch, in the Policy, Strategy and Resourcing Division of Queensland Health, and:
Provides a source of expertise concerning health workforce issues in rural communities, including managing Queensland Health's largest scholarship scheme - the Rural Scholarship Scheme - as well as the Allied Health 'Area of Priority' Scholarship Scheme, the Bonded Medical Scholarship Scheme and other Queensland Health scholarship and subsidy schemes.
Promotes statewide strategic workforce planning and policy development activities across the health workforce, in relation to endorsed health priority areas, population groups and reform agendas.
Liaises with Health Service Districts and Government agencies on rural health issues and supports the Minister for Health's Subcommittees in relation to rural workforce issues.