Our health workforce needs the right skills and training to care for all Queenslanders now and in the future, which is why the Queensland Government is boosting the workforce by 46,000 workers by 2032.
75% of these roles will be doctors, nurses and frontline workers, providing world-class healthcare right across the State.
Recruitment is underway for these roles, with a range of initiatives and programs being rolled out:
Paramedic, Remote Hospitals Role
Paramedics are a distinct health profession, with skills that extend beyond their traditional association with ambulance services. Queensland Health is expanding the role of paramedics in response to workforce needs, creating new opportunities for them to contribute across the health system. From 1 April, experienced paramedics can be employed by hospital and health services to work in remote facilities, delivering both primary and emergency care. This initiative strengthens frontline services in remote communities and empowers local health services to respond to workforce shortages.
Record number of graduate doctors join Queensland Health
More than 930 new first year graduate doctors will start their training in Queensland hospitals across the state. This is the largest intake in Queensland’s history, surpassing last year’s record of 880 new first year doctors. Queensland’s new intake of doctors will gain clinical experience through various rotations such as emergency medicine, cardiology, orthopedics, anaesthetics, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, intensive care, mental health, general medicine and surgery. The record intake will provide critical health care across the state.
New program to deliver more midwives in rural Queensland
A new Midwifery Clinical Facilitator program will support and retain midwives in regional and rural communities, with positions across Townsville, Cairns and Hinterland, Central Queensland, Darling Downs, Mackay and West Moreton Hospital and Health Services. The program will boost local training capacity and help more midwives build careers closer to home.
Clinical midwife facilitators are experienced registered midwives who support, mentor and assess students and graduates during their clinical placements, acting as a critical bridge between training and frontline care.
By expanding supervision and support on the ground, the program will complement the rollout of midwife-to-patient ratios, by enabling up to 56 additional graduate midwives to be trained and recruited into regional and rural hospitals - one of the largest midwifery boosts in years.
$1 billion boost to Queensland Ambulance Service
More than 900 new Queensland Ambulance staff and 170 ambulances are to be delivered in a $1 billion investment in the Queensland Ambulance Service. The additional staffing includes new paramedics, Emergency Medical Dispatchers, Patient Transport Officers, various clinicians, and support workers to deliver ambulance services when Queenslanders need them.
2000 extra fee free Diploma of Nursing training places
The Queensland Government is delivering an extra 2000 fee free Diploma of Nursing training places from 2026. These additional training places will see graduating students eligible to seek registration as an Enrolled Nurse and secure work in Queensland’s Health Care and Social Assistance Sector. With places available at TAFE Queensland, CQUniversity and Mater Education, this initiative will help ensure Queenslanders from Cairns to Coolangatta, and from Mount Isa to Mackay, have access to free, job-ready training to deliver high-quality care close to home.
A wide range of training and support pathways are also offered for students, graduates and early‑career professionals to ensure each worker reaches their full potential. These programs provide hands‑on experience, mentoring and supported development across Queensland’s public health system. Some examples include:
School-Based and First Nations Pathways
- Deadly Start Traineeships - Paid, on‑the‑job training for First Nations students in Year 11, available across Queensland hospitals and health services.
- School-Based Traineeships - For students in Years 10–12 who want to gain real workplace experience one day a week while completing a Certificate III in areas such as allied health assistance, dental assisting, business, pharmacy support and more.
- First Nations Cadetships - Part‑time, paid 12‑month cadetships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across disciplines including nursing, midwifery, allied health, IT, HR, law, marketing and policy.
Scholarships and financial support
- Funding and practical experience for health students while they study.
- Includes the Graduate Midwifery Diploma Scholarship for registered nurses studying at Charles Sturt University.
Graduate and early career programs
- Clinical Placements - Practical placements for students in nursing, midwifery, medicine, allied health, dentistry and oral health through Queensland Health’s statewide network.
- Graduate nursing and midwifery program - A structured transition‑to‑practice program supporting newly registered nurses and midwives as they begin their careers.
- Early Career Dental Practitioner Program - A supported pathway for new dental practitioners featuring mentoring, peer learning, specialist lectures and clinical placements.
Learn more about Queensland Health careers.