November 20, 2025
Can local people help to fix a very real local problem, the growing shortage of doctors and health professionals in the South Burnett region?
The Red Earth Community Foundation hopes so.
The not-for-profit association has launched an initiative which it believes will help to remove the financial barriers that can stop local medical students from returning home to practise.
The Red Earth Rural Health Pathways Fund was unveiled at a Rural Healthcare Summit held last Saturday night in The Cooperage at Dusty Hill Vineyard, Moffatdale.
The summit was organised by Red Earth in collaboration with Toowoomba-based Rural Medical Education Australia.
Guest speakers included Eiryn Twidale, from Kingaroy, who developed the Pathways Fund concept; Kingaroy GP Dr Emma Leu-Marshall, South Burnett Director of Medical Services Dr Liam Weber and Red Earth deputy chair John Carey.
The Rural Health Pathways Fund aims to provide financial support to medical and health students who are completing their final placements and qualifications outside the region.
The fund would assist students to cover the costs of accommodation, relocation and living expenses when they are completing their training in mandatory placements away from home.
Red Earth believes it could make the difference between a student struggling against the barriers in the rural training system and a future GP, nurse, physiotherapist or psychologist returning to the Burnett to practice, to live and to raise their family.
The summit was the brainchild of Ms Twidale, who was this year awarded the Rural Doctors Association of Australia Medical Student of the Year Award and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine’s National Medical Student of the Year Award, all while studying for her medical degree and working as a nurse at Kingaroy Hospital.
Next year, she will be part of the first intern program at Kingaroy Hospital.
“The Red Earth Rural Health Pathways Fund is about investing in local people so that care stays close to home,” Mr Carey said.
“When we help our young doctors and health professionals complete their training, we’re not just funding qualifications, we’re building the future health of our region'”
The fund’s first goal is to raise $40,000 to support a local medical intern in 2026.
There are plans to expand the program over time to include allied health, nursing and other health professions.
“Every dollar given helps a future doctor, nurse or allied health professional come home,” Mr Carey said.
The launch was sponsored by Rural Medical Education Australia, the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN, RES and Stanwell.
- More information about how to donate is on the Red Earth website
(Photo: Nanango Electorate Office)
