QRMFN Launch the Spouse & Family Support Program!

Are you a medical student planning to commence a medical placement in rural or remote Queensland?

Are you wanting to bring your spouse/partner and family with you?

We understand that it can be challenging for everyone involved when relocating to a new location, and that’s where QRMFN can help!

Queensland Rural Medical Family Network have launched the Spouse and Family Support Program where we connect medical students going on placement with a local community contact. This contact can help provide local knowledge, tips and tricks on rural and remote living, or recommend the best spot for coffee in town.

You are invited to the 2020 QRMFN AGM

You are invited to the QRMFN AGM on Thursday 4 June, which will be held via Zoom teleconference this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss QRMFN and its services which are designed to enhance the lives of medical families in rural communities. We will also be holding committee elections during the meeting.

The Queensland Rural Medical Family Network (QRMFN) was formed to recognise, empower and support rural medical spouses, partners and families.

2020 QRMFN Backbone of the Bush Award Cancelled Due to COVID-19

We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, recent announcements made by the Australian Government, along with the cancellation of the 2020 RDAQ Conference, we have decided to cancel the QRMFN Backbone of the Bush Award and the QRMFN spouse and family program for 2020.

This decision was made as we value the health and well-being of our nominees, their partners, conference delegates and the broader community.

We know that this decision is disappointing, and we thank you for your support and understanding. If you have any questions regarding the Backbone of the Bush Awards or QRMFN, please contact us on 07 3105 7800 or via qrmfn@healthworkforce.com.au

2020 QRMFN Backbone of the Bush Award - Nominations Now Open!

We're excited to announce the 2020 QRMFN Backbone of the Bush Award nomination period is now open!

Behind many a great rural doctor, there’s an amazing spouse or partner and the Backbone of Bush Award recognises those one of kind people who selflessly provide support, give of their time and are passionate about their rural community.

The nomination period will be open from 9:00am (AEST) Sunday 1 February to 4:00pm (AEST) Tuesday 31 March, 2020.

Click here for more information and how to submit your nomination.

Congratulations Tamara!

QRMFN Committee President James Constable with 2017 Backbone of the Bush Award recipient Tamara Hall.

Each year the QRMFN recognises the incredible contributions made by the spouses and partners of Queensland’s rural doctors through the Backbone of the Bush Award. The QRMFN and Health Workforce Queensland are thrilled to announce Tamara Hall as the 2017 Backbone of the Bush Award recipient. 

Tamara has lived in rural Queensland for over 15 years. She is a supporting wife, a devoted mother, a long-serving practice manager, a part-time physiotherapist and a dedicated community member to name a few.

She has completed a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, a Certificate III in Business and a Diploma of Practice Management. Whilst these qualifications are personal achievements, her focus remains on the rural community she calls home. As stated in the nomination by her colleague, “She has been a key player and a guiding hand in the expansion and reform of the business.”

Last but most definitely not least, is the support she has provided to her husband for over 21 years. She has supported her husband through his clinical placements across Julia Creek, Woorabinda, Inglewood and Gladstone. She has supported her husband through his internship in Townsville. She has supported her husband through further training across Rockhampton, Mackay and Stanthorpe. She has shared her husband’s passion and dream to establish a rural general practice in Oakey and has been an integral part in the expansion of two additional rural general practices servicing Kingsthorpe and West Toowoomba.

Have you heard about our Small Grants Program?

QRMFN Small Grants 'Meet and Greet' in Stanthorpe

Living in a remote or rural community can be tough! In most cases you’re some distance from your immediate support network; your family and friends.

Why not make use of the QRMFN Small Grants Program to connect with other rural medical families?

The Small Grants Program is designed to facilitate face to face networking and social opportunities for medical families in remote and rural Queensland. There are small grants of up to $500 inc. GST available for events such as:

• Networking lunch, dinner, morning/afternoon tea
• Social family activity in conjunction with medical event
• Social family activity independent of medical events
• ‘Meet and Greet’ style activity for new medical family/families
• Personal development and/or information sharing event

The Small Grants Program is a fantastic initiative to ensure remote and rural medical spouses, partners and children are supported.

Submit a Small Grants application today!

2017 RDAQ Family Program

The 2017 Royal Doctors Association of Queensland annual conference is fast approaching; held in the beautiful tropics of Townsville over Thursday 8 to Saturday 10, June.

The conference is a fantastic professional development and networking opportunity for rural medical professionals. But it is also an opportunity for spouses, partners and children of rural medical professionals to come together. 

The Queensland Rural Medical Family Network, an initiative of and funded by Health Workforce Queensland, will provide the 2017 Family Program at the RDAQ Conference.

The Family Program is jam packed with activities that will engage the senses and show the beautiful north Queensland landscape, attractions and wildlife.

The QRMFN Family Program includes a meet and greet, a visit to the Museum of Tropical Queensland, a social night, exploring the Billabong Sanctuary and a movie night.

As part of the Family Program, the QRMFN Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 9, June at 9:30am at the Muesum of Tropical Queensland. 

Registrations for the QRMFN Family Program and the RDAQ Conference are still open. Register now for this unique family friendly opportunity. Get to know and support other rural medical spouses, partners and childen. 

2017 Backbone of the Bush Award

Do you know a spouse or partner of a rural doctor who deserves recognition for their outstanding achievements and contributions to rural communities or other individual endeavours? Why not nominate them for the 2017 Backbone of the Bush Award. 

This award acknowledged and recognises spouses and partners of rural doctors who achieve outstanding accomplishments in their own right, while simultaneously supporting their doctor partner and the rural communities they've come to call home. 

The 2016 Backbone of the Bush recipient, Bec Telfor from Stanthorpe, was instrumental in fundraising for the the Australian Breastfeeding Association and local schools and kindergartens, as well as sporting and arts groups. "I feel volunteering has given me much more than I have given, it was almost overwhelming to be awarded for it too!" Bec said. 

See Backbone of the Bush for more information and the 2017 Nomination Form. Nominations close 30 April, 2017. 

Make Use of the Small Grants Program

Developing social connections and strong support networks is important for all people, young and old. For medical spouses, partners and families in remote and rural Queensland communities, those social connections and support networks are crucial!

Many medical families living in remote and rural communities live some distance from family and friends; their immediate support network. Therefore, the QRMFN Small Grants Program is designed to facilitate face-to-face networking opportunities for medical families in those remote and rural communities. This form of interaction helps to retain medical families and doctors within the remote and rural setting.  

Small grants of up to $500 (inc. GST) provide an opportunity for remote and rural medical spouses, partners and families to network; sharing information and sharing common experiences. The Small Grants Program takes a 'ground roots' approach to increase interactivity among its members at the local level.

See the Small Grants Program on the website for more information, including the flyer and application form.  

Gundy Medical Muster - Family Program 2016

View fullsize

The Family Program at this year’s Gundy Medical Muster was far and away the biggest and best we’ve run so far. With 30 families attending, we had a total of 74 partners, spouses and children registered across the three day program. The program has tripled in size since the last Muster in 2014. Our families and delegates were welcomed to Goondiwindi on Friday night with a reception featuring live entertainment, a full sized photo booth complete with costumes, and games for the kids. Saturday morning had options of a locally run Bush Tucker Tour or self-guided shopping tour, before we met for family lunch with face-painting and art and craft activities. We then took the children to the local PCYC for an afternoon of fun and sporting activities. Basketball, soccer, volleyball and badminton were among the favourites with a special room full of giant blocks and mini trampolines dedicated for use by our younger family members. Saturday night saw us having a beautiful buffet children’s dinner before it was time to head off to the movies in our own private cinema complete with movie snacks! We finished the program with a kids cooking class on Sunday morning, before inviting families to join the Gourmet in Gundy festival held in the afternoon.