Graduate and early career allied health clinicians are encouraged to apply for a unique rural rotation opportunity in Hunter New England Local Health District, with applications opening soon for the next round of the Allied Health Rural Generalist Program.
As the first program of its kind in NSW, the Allied Health Rural Generalist Program offers a structured two-year pathway for participants to develop into highly skilled allied health generalists.
Hosted by HNELHD, the program provides clinicians with paid employment in rural and regional settings while they undertake postgraduate studies with James Cook University, supported by NSW Health scholarships.
Each program offers a team of six multidisciplinary allied health clinicians the chance to rotate through a variety of rural and regional sites and clinical specialties, including inpatient, community health and outreach settings across the Hunter and New England regions.
The current round has positions available in speech pathology, social work, and dietetics. HNELHD Allied Health Manager of Workforce, Education and Professional Development, Louise Maye, said this breadth of experience equips graduates with versatile skills while improving access to care for people living in rural and remote communities.
“Since launching the Allied Health Rural Generalist Program in 2018, we’ve had 11 allied health clinicians successfully complete the program, with eight (73 per cent) gaining permanent positions within our District,” she said.
“Another six graduates are due to complete the program in February, with three already securing permanent roles in our rural communities.”
Ms Maye said the Allied Health Rural Generalist Program has also delivered significant benefits for patients, including reduced wait times for outpatient appointments and fewer trips to larger hospitals for specialist care.
Speech pathologist Meg Jarvis relocated from South Australia to participate in the program in 2022 and continues to work at Tamworth Community Health, where she is enjoying building her skills while making a real difference for rural patients.
“The program gave me exposure to so many different settings and challenges that I would never have experienced in a single role. It really accelerated my learning and helped me decide where I wanted to focus my career,” she said.
“Moving from my home in South Australia was a big step, but the support from the team and the professional growth opportunities here made it an easy decision to stay on in Tamworth.”
Applications open on Monday, 6 October 2025 and close on 13 October 2025.
Clinicians are eligible to apply if they have qualified in the past three years in speech pathology, social work, or dietetics.
For more information or to apply, visit https://iworkfor.nsw.gov.au/.
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