Author: CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-MCLAY Associated Press, ABC News
Published on: 28/03/2025 | 05:56:47
AI Summary:
Julia Creek, population 500, is offering about double the salary a family physician would earn in the state’s capital, Brisbane. The catch is that Brisbane is a 17-hour drive away. Dr. Adam Louws says his replacement will also find a quieter pace of life. In neighboring New Zealand, 65% of rural areas had a shortage of primary care physicians in 2023. For Janene Fegan, the mayor of McKinlay Shire — which includes Julia Creek — that meant the town needed a good sales pitch. The town was not literally off the grid: Julia Creek has electricity and broadband internet. Louws says he knew “nine out of 10” people in the town by name. At the end of his two year contract, the distance from his extended family had taken a toll. “You get to really make a difference,” the doctor says.
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