Experienced Queensland paramedics will be able to work in remote hospitals and health services from April in what is an Australian-first health sector workforce initiative.
The new Remote Hospitals Paramedic role will take effect from 1 April 2026 in Queensland’s most remote towns.
Under the new model, these paramedics will deliver both primary and emergency care in Queensland Health’s remote health services including hospitals, general practices, residential aged care facilities, and primary health care clinics.
“These targeted reforms are about fixing a system left under strain after a decade of neglect under Labor, and restoring easier access to health services for rural, regional and remote Queenslanders,” said Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls.
“Traditional workforce models alone are not meeting the needs of our most remote communities, which is why we are backing new and flexible ways of delivering care.
“The nation-leading Paramedic, Remote Hospitals model will give remote hospitals and health services greater flexibility to respond to local health needs and workforce challenges, and ultimately, improve access to care.
“Paramedics are highly trained clinicians with strong skills in assessment and acute care, and those skills are incredibly valuable in remote hospitals and clinics where clinicians must manage a wide range of health presentations.”
Nine Queensland Health HHSs have facilities in areas classified as remote and very remote (Modified Monash Model) and will be able to employ paramedics within their facilities under the Directive.
These include:
- Cairns and Hinterland HHS
- Central Queensland HHS
- Central West HHS
- Darling Downs HHS
- Mackay HHS
- North West HHS
- South West HHS
- Torres and Cape HHS
- Townsville HHS.
The first Queensland Health Remote Hospitals Paramedics are expected to commence mid-year.
