Applications for the 2025 Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway intake have closed

You can apply to join us as a medical student or a postgraduate doctor when applications open.

Intern recruitment

Two female doctors engaged in conversation at a desk, sharing insights in a professional healthcare setting.

Are you a postgraduate?

If you didn’t apply during medical school, you can also join the pathway as a postgraduate.

We recruit postgraduate doctors to the pathway twice a year, usually in May and September.

Find out how to apply as a postgraduate

Benefits of joining the pathway

Support and guidance

When you join the pathway, you’ll have a dedicated advisor and team to support you and help with any challenges. We'll guide you through placements, fellowship training, and professional hurdles. We'll also help you plan your career and explore future options. Our advisors are rural medicine experts, and most of them have done the pathway.

Your training

We offer flexible training, exclusive workshops and access to term experiences that can be hard to get. You’ll also do a customised prevocational training program in your first 2 years. This program builds the skills and knowledge you need for the next stage of your training.

Connection

Our networks and contacts can support you and help you make the connections you need to thrive as a rural generalist. We can connect you with peers, colleagues, future employers, training partners, mentors and leaders in rural generalism. Rural medicine isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. Let us help you as you find yours.

Endless options

The Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway not only qualifies you for life as a Rural Generalist, it also sets you up for a career in almost any other medical field. Our Fellows go on to roles in rural generalism, clinical leadership, international aid work, expeditionary and retrieval medicine and provide valuable services to communities in need nationally and internationally.

Hear from our career advisors

Profile phot of Stephen

Dr Steven Johnston

Senior Medical Officer/General Practice Anaesthetist
Weipa Integrated Health Service


I love being a general practice anaesthetist (GPA). It’s great to be able to support the local obstetrics service. Becoming a GPA was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made – I love the work, I love the place.

Dr Katherine Lynch

Senior Medical Officer
Longreach


There is so much opportunity out here. You can do more here than what you can do in the city. You come out here, you will make a difference to people's lives. You will gain skills that you would never have got the opportunity to gain and you will get to do so much. You'll experience a community that is really, truly grateful for having you here.

Dr David Walker

Executive Director of Medial Services and General Practitioner,
Central West


I came to the area in 2006 and loved the town, fell in love with the people, made lots of friends, and ended up staying. Rural medicine is what you make of it and I’ve been really lucky to get opportunities here that I probably wouldn’t get anywhere else. I get to practice at the top of scope and look after patients for as long as I can.

Pathway timeline

PGY 1 and 2 Prevocational Plus
2 years

Find your calling.

As an intern and Junior House Officer, you lay the foundations for your future career. Access a wide range of training experiences to help you decide the next step on your career path.

Priority access

Guaranteed access to term experience in O&G, paediatrics and anaesthetics.

Experience more

Access additional hands-on training, with a wide variety of presentations in special extended rural terms. Attend our exclusive workshops, designed to build your professional network and gain important extra skills to progress your career faster.

Career guidance

Get expert advice when you need it most, with scheduled and unscheduled contact from your Career Navigator, an experienced practising clinician.

On-call support

You’re never alone. From personal and family matters, to important deadlines and admin task reminders, we’re here by your side and on the end of the phone.

PGY 3 Advanced Skills Training
1–2 years

Build your knowledge.

As a rural generalist, you’ll need general practice plus additional skills. Master the advanced skills needed in your future rural community. As a Registrar/PHO, spend your time learning about and working in your AST discipline. We work with your general practice training providers to help keep your training on track.

Targeted training

Exclusive Advance Skills Training boot camps to get you career ready.

Stay on track

We check accreditation to ensure that you avoid positions that add nothing to your Fellowship training and help you find the discipline that best fits your career goals. But if you find it’s not working out, we’ll support you to continue to progress your career, while helping you find another position.

Recruitment assistance

Fill out one form, do one interview, then we match you with available and suitable positions.

On-call support

Your Career Navigator and the team work hard to get to know you and are available to help troubleshoot any personal or professional challenges you may face.

PGY 4 & 5 Vocational Training
2 years

Expand your skills.

Develop and hone your skills to become the doctor you’ve always wanted to be with on the ground generalist training in a hospital, community general practice, or other setting.

Develop and hone your skills to become the doctor you’ve always wanted to be with on the ground generalist training in a hospital, community general practice, or other setting. Make a difference as an integral member of the clinical team in a rural community.

Fellowship

Explore opportunities.

You’re now a self-sufficient practising Rural Generalist. As part of the respected QRGP community, you now have endless opportunities to take your career anywhere.

Endless opportunity

As well as being a highly capable rural generalist, you’re perfectly positioned to explore opportunities in clinical leadership, international aid work, expeditionary and retrieval medicine, or other specialist training.

Recognised excellence

As an alumnus of the Queensland rural generalist pathway, be recognised for your world leading Rural Generalist training.

Poised to lead

Formalise your credentials with a leadership qualification developed specifically for the QRGP.

Real doctors, real stories

Elizabeth's interest in medicine began after her rural GP diagnosed her with heart problems as a child.

Now, she is a rural generalist with an advanced skill in emergency medicine.