If you’re a group A applicant and have extenuating circumstances that limit your ability to work in certain locations, you'll be able to apply for special consideration.

Rules

To be able to apply for special consideration, you must apply under one of two rules. You can only apply with one and you’ll need to submit supporting documents.

Rule 1

You have exceptional compassionate grounds or other exceptional reasons that would cause you significant personal or family hardship, for example:

  • major health problem requiring frequent and ongoing highly specialised treatment only available in certain locations
  • separation from a partner or dependent that would have significant negative impacts on you or your partner or dependent.

Rule 2

You have a demonstrated commitment or ties to rural or regional Queensland and an intention to practise in these locations in the long-term.

How to apply

To apply, you must use the online portal. We only accept applications during the campaign dates.

At Step 3 of the application ‘Other Details’ you need to do all of the following:

  • select ‘Special Consideration’
  • the location (South East Queensland Corner Group or individual hospital) you are applying to
  • select the rule you are applying under
  • provide a brief statement in the free text box regarding your special consideration request.

If you’ve nominated an oversubscribed hospital, we’ll ask you to provide supporting documents. After applications close, you’ll get an email that tells you the due date for these and how to submit them.

Nominating hospitals

If you’re a group A applying for the South East corner, you must nominate these hospitals first:

  • Caboolture Hospital
  • Gold Coast University Hospital
  • Ipswich Hospital
  • Logan Hospital
  • Mater Health Services
  • Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital
  • Redcliffe Hospital
  • Redland Hospital
  • Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
  • The Prince Charles Hospital.

If you’re approved for special consideration to the South East Queensland corner group you are still subject to the ballot process.

You should make sure you’ve considered and preferenced undersubscribed hospitals in the region. Find out about the number of positions.

We may decline your application for special consideration if there’s an undersubscribed South East Queensland corner hospital within reasonable distance of your residence.

Once you’ve nominated the South East corner hospitals, you can nominate other hospitals including:

  • Bundaberg Hospital
  • Cairns Hospital
  • Hervey Bay Hospital
  • Mackay Base Hospital
  • Rockhampton Hospital
  • Sunshine Coast University Hospital
  • Toowoomba Hospital
  • Townsville University Hospital.

If you apply for special consideration to one of these hospitals it means you’re seeking exemption from being subject to a ballot process. If you do this, you’ll do your internship at that hospital.

If you want to apply for special consideration to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, you must do this through rule 1.

Supporting documents

If we ask you for supporting documents, there are certain ones you need to provide depending on what rule you applied under.

You must get all documents certified as copies of the original by either a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Declaration, Barrister, Solicitor, or notary public.

Rule 1

You must supply:

  • a certified copy of a Queensland statutory declaration detailing your potential hardship and a list of the documents you’ve supplied to support your request
  • a certified copy of a Queensland statutory declaration made by someone else to confirm your claim
  • certified copies of Medical certificates or other supporting documents that state what your exceptional compassionate grounds or other exceptional reasons are
  • certified copies of evidence of your circumstances, for example if a medical condition, there must be sufficient evidence that the treatment can’t be done somewhere else.

Rule 2

You must supply a Queensland statutory declaration outlining your rural or regional experience and your intention to practice in this location in the future.

Application guide

Find out more about the ballot process, supporting documents and applying in the Intern Application Guide [PDF 7819.58 KB].

Last updated: April 2024