A job with a $500K salary and free house has no takers
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite offering a salary of up to $513,620 and a rent-free house on a decent piece of land, the council have had no takers so far.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“It’s not only about the money, it’s also about the lifestyle,” she said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ms Fegan first moved to the area for a temporary posting to work as a nurse, but three months has since become three decades.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“It’s just a nice, easy, simple lifestyle,” she said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“We have plenty of room, plenty of space.”</p>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cbd9db93-7fff-6c3b-d448-e7d71e705311"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">While the council has received two applications so far, both have requested a fly-in, fly-out arrangement.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Residents are desperate for the return to having a permanent doctor, which will result in greater stability and access to urgent care when needed.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“If you had a sick child in the middle of the night, they might have to send you on,” Ms Fegan said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“And some things aren’t quite serious enough to need an ambulance, but serious enough that you want care quickly.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">She added that they had survived so far through the good will of neighbours helping each other out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The council has also said it will provide the new GP’s partner with employment if needed.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“We would definitely make all our effort to find something suitable,” Ms Fegan said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“And also with the internet, you don’t need to work in the city anymore.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-90122888-7fff-9859-7f6f-add831717807"></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @mckinlayshirecouncil</em></p>