• Rural Clinical School

• Part-time (0.5FTE), fixed-term position until December 2028  
• Base salary will be in the range $145,961 - $193,070 + 17% super (Academic Level C to D) 

• Based at the Bundaberg Hospital  

About This Opportunity  

Play a pivotal role in shaping the future of rural medical education and strengthening the medical workforce across regional and rural Queensland.

As Head, Bundaberg Regional Clinical Unit, you will lead the delivery of UQ’s end-to-end Doctor of Medicine (MD) program in Bundaberg, providing strategic academic and operational leadership within the Rural Clinical School’s Wide Bay Learning Community.

At an exciting time of growth for Wide Bay and rural Queensland, you will join an enthusiastic and supportive team of clinicians, academics, professional staff and healthcare partners. Together, you will create an exceptional learning environment where future doctors can thrive, develop their professional identity and build strong connections with regional medicine.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced GP or non-GP Specialist to shape a growing regional medical pathway, strengthen clinical and community partnerships, and inspire the next generation of doctors to build rewarding careers in rural and regional Queensland.

Key responsibilities will include:  

• Teaching: Provide academic leadership for the MD program within the Bundaberg Regional Clinical Unit, foster excellence in teaching and learning, contribute to curriculum delivery and assessment, and support students through academic guidance, career advice and pastoral care.

• Research: Maintain academic standing through scholarship and research activities, foster a positive research culture, and support collaborative research initiatives that strengthen the Rural Clinical School and regional medical pathway.

• Supervision and Researcher Development: Mentor and develop students and emerging clinicians, encourage the responsible conduct of research, and support professional growth through coaching, feedback and scholarly engagement.

• Citizenship and Service: Build strong partnerships with healthcare providers, general practice and community stakeholders, contribute to the governance and leadership of the Rural Clinical School, champion regional medical careers, and promote a culture of collaboration, wellbeing and excellence.

This is a teaching focused position. Further information can be found by viewing UQ’s Criteria for Academic Performance.  

For further information, please click here to view the information booklet. 

About You  

You will be an experienced clinician with a passion for rural and regional medicine and an interest in extending your impact through medical leadership, education and academia. This opportunity will particularly appeal to someone seeking a rewarding portfolio career that combines clinical practice in the local community with academic leadership. Whether you bring an established research profile or are looking to build your research capability, you will join an enthusiastic and supportive Rural Clinical School community committed to helping medical education, research and regional healthcare thrive.

You will also have:

• Medical qualification with Specialist Registration (GP or non-GP Specialist) and eligibility for registration as a medical practitioner in Australia with AHPRA.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical teaching and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality medical education in undergraduate, postgraduate and/or professional settings.
• Proven ability to provide academic leadership, build collaborative relationships, and work effectively across complex healthcare and university environments.
• Experience in, or a commitment to, scholarship and research, with the ability to foster a positive culture of academic enquiry and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence students, clinicians, academic colleagues, health service partners and community stakeholders.
• A genuine commitment to rural and regional health, with an understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with living, learning and working in regional communities.

About the Rural Clinical School

Located within the Medical School at The University of Queensland, the Rural Clinical School (RCS) is the largest rural clinical school hosted by a single university. It works to foster and sustain a skilled and dynamic medical workforce to meet the needs of rural, regional, and remote Queensland.

The Rural Clinical School provides students with rigorous clinical training built upon hands-on experiences in hospitals and community-based practices. Above all, we give our students the unique opportunity to live and work in some of Queensland’s amazing rural, regional, and remote locations. Our classrooms are the public and private hospitals, specialist consulting rooms, general practices and community healthcare settings throughout rural, regional and remote Queensland. Our teachers are dedicated and passionate rural clinicians. Our students get the opportunity to learn in a range of clinical contexts across the public, private and community sectors.

The greater benefits of joining the UQ community are broad: from being part of a Group of Eight university, to recognition of prior service with other Australian universities, up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, flexible working arrangements, access to exclusive internal-only vacancies, and genuine career progression opportunities via the academic promotions process.  

Interested? 

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Professor Riitta Partanen | Director, Rural Clinical School at r.partanen@uq.edu.au

For application inquiries, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team at talent@uq.edu.au, stating the job reference number (below) in the subject line.  

When you apply, please ensure you upload a resume and cover letter summarizing how your background aligns to the ‘About You’ section. 

Other Information  

Pre-employment checks may include verification of the right to work in Australia, qualifications, professional registration (e.g. AHPRA), criminal history checks and mandatory immunisations. This may also include checks relating to gender-based violence matters or other integrity and conduct requirements.  

You must maintain unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this appointment to apply. Employer sponsored work rights are not available for this appointment.  

We're dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that career pathways and opportunities differ, and encourage applications from candidates who may not meet every criteria but can demonstrate their potential relative to opportunity. We’re also happy to support any accessibility needs throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can help by emailing talent@uq.edu.au or calling +61 7 3365 2623. 

Applications close Friday 8 January 2027 at 11.00pm AEST (R-69805). Please note that interviews have been tentatively scheduled for late January 2027.