A job with a $500K salary and free house has no takers
Healthcare can be hard to access in rural areas, but even one Aussie town’s tantalising offer of a hefty salary and free home has yet to successfully attract any doctors.
Julia Creek’s McKinlay Shire Council, located 600km west of Townsville, Queensland, has put together an enticing package for a GP looking to go bush and help their tight-knit community.
Despite offering a salary of up to $513,620 ($NZD 572,056) and a rent-free house on a decent piece of land, the council have had no takers so far.
Currently, temporary doctors fly into the community for two days each week to support local hospital staff - with residents needing care on the other five days of the week forced to travel two hours or 200km to Mount Isa.
Deputy Mayor Janene Fegan told NCA NewsWire that the package was first offered three months ago, but their search for a permanent GP in the community has been ongoing for the past 18 months.
“It’s not only about the money, it’s also about the lifestyle,” she said.
Ms Fegan first moved to the area for a temporary posting to work as a nurse, but three months has since become three decades.
“It’s just a nice, easy, simple lifestyle,” she said.
“We have plenty of room, plenty of space.”
With a tight-knit community of 500 residents, Ms Fegan said Julia Creek boasts warm sunny days, a gym that will only set you back $30 a month, and a pool that costs just $2 to use.
While the council has received two applications so far, both have requested a fly-in, fly-out arrangement.
Residents are desperate for the return to having a permanent doctor, which will result in greater stability and access to urgent care when needed.
“If you had a sick child in the middle of the night, they might have to send you on,” Ms Fegan said.
“And some things aren’t quite serious enough to need an ambulance, but serious enough that you want care quickly.”
She added that they had survived so far through the good will of neighbours helping each other out.
“I guess that’s why we’ve survived so long without the doctor, because we are such a tight-knit community and someone will also help someone else out,” she said.
The council has also said it will provide the new GP’s partner with employment if needed.
“We would definitely make all our effort to find something suitable,” Ms Fegan said.
“And also with the internet, you don’t need to work in the city anymore.”
Image: @mckinlayshirecouncil