If you’re interested in a rural career, we encourage you to apply for a RIPPAH placement.

RIPPAH experiences are unique, and you’ll be able to showcase the knowledge, skills and attributes when you’re applying for jobs as a new graduate.

Eligibility

You must be a domestic student enrolled in a nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, radiography, sonography or speech pathology program at a Queensland university that’s:

We may also consider applications from Queensland domestic students enrolled at an interstate university. You must be doing the same courses, and the university must also be a Student Placement Deed holder and accredited by the respective professional body.

We try to place all applicants, but can only offer a limited number of RIPPAH placements. If you aren't successful, or you're not a domestic student, we still encourage you to apply for a rural placement through your standard university placement process. Many benefits of RIPPAH placements are also available in standard placements.

Selection criteria

When we assess your application, we’ll consider:

  • the strength of your personal statement about your interest in pursuing a career in rural allied health
  • opportunities you highlight that will help us make sure you have a positive placement experience (read more about our placement program)
  • your responses in the online application form.

How to apply

This online application process is for students doing:

  • nutrition and dietetics
  • occupational therapy
  • pharmacy
  • radiography or sonography
  • speech pathology.

Fill in the online EOI application form. All sections are mandatory. If you don’t complete them, we won’t consider your application.

If you’re a physiotherapy student, you’ll need support from your university program coordinator or delegate. To apply fill in the physiotherapy placement EOI application form [PDF 146.27 KB] and email it to RIPPAH@health.qld.gov.au.

Your details are confidential, and we’ll only use them to contact you about your application.

After you apply

Your application will be assessed by a panel. If you’re placed on the merit list, the panel will let your university know within one month of the application close date.

Each university will assess the merit list to make sure the placements can be supported.

Placements will be offered in line with the Student Placement Deed process.

If you’re successful, you’ll need to fill in the student orientation checklist and do the allied health student training before your placement. You must also do an orientation before you start your placement in a Queensland Health facility.

Privacy notice

Personal information collected by the Department of Health and Queensland Health is handled in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009. The Department of Health and Queensland Health is collecting personal information (including name, address, phone number, email address, program of study and associated university) in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 in order to accept your expression of interest in a clinical placement opportunity. All personal information will be securely stored and only accessible by the Department of Health and Queensland Health. This type of personal information may be given to a student’s university for the purpose of offering a clinical placement in line with the Student Placement Deed. Your personal information will not be disclosed to other third parties without consent, unless the disclosure is authorised or required by or under law. For information about how the Department of Health and Queensland Health protects your personal information, or to learn about your right to access your own personal information, please see our privacy policy.

Online application form

Please don’t include personal information about any other person, such as their name, when you fill in the form.

Are you enrolled as a domestic student? *
Which 2025 placements would you like to apply for? (tick all that apply) * Check our list of placement dates and locations for each allied health profession.
List the offers in your preferred order. Start with the placement you want to do the most.
For example, if you want to do Offer 2 more than Offer 1, enter your answer as Offer 2, Offer 1.
Tell us each about each reason in less than 5 words.
Outline aspects that may help us transition you to a rural team – for example, rural background or schooling, or connections and interests with living in a rural area.
Tell us about yourself, why you’re interested in pursuing a career in rural or remote health, and why the placement opportunities you selected interest you.
Would you like the opportunity to do paid employment while undertaking a RIPPAH placement? * This is external to placement requirements.
Privacy statement *

Before you submit the form, make sure you've answered all the questions.