Why demand for rural aged care jobs is as strong as ever

All Australians should have equal access to healthcare no matter where they live. It’s a sentiment all Australians would agree with. But are we actually achieving it? In many parts of Australia, rural and regional areas do not have the same access to healthcare as those in the cities.

This has a detrimental impact on the health outcomes of people in regional areas. In Queensland the average age of death in rural or remote areas is 75.2 years. This compares to 81.7 in major cities. The leading cause of death is coronary heart disease—a largely preventable condition—followed by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

With 17 per cent of Queensland’s population aged over 65, many older Australians face a dilemma. Do they stay in the communities they are familiar with, or move away for better access to health and aged care services?

So, what are the impacts of this, and what can be done?

What are the consequences?

Whether older people choose to leave or stay in their communities, the consequences can be significant.

For older people, moving away from communities they have lived in for decades, in many cases, can be incredibly challenging. It can lead to feelings of grief, loss and trauma. Being forced to move away from family and friends can also lead to feelings of isolation.

Many older Australians who choose to remain in regional areas face a long wait to receive medical care if they can access it at all. In extreme cases, they are forced to wait five or six weeks just to see a GP.

For those looking to move into residential aged care, waitlists can also be lengthy. This can place additional pressure on other healthcare facilities such as hospitals. It can also leave older Australians with no choice but to move away from their local communities.

Others are forced to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to receive care, something which becomes increasingly challenging as you age.

Lack of access to healthcare means more people present later in disease progression. This means their overall outcome is not as good.

What can be done?

Reducing wait times for medical care is key to improving health outcomes. To do this will require attracting more healthcare workers to rural and regional areas, something which will require additional government support.

Danielle Allan is the president of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland. She says regional healthcare should be funded proportionately to the increasing number of Australians who are choosing to live in regional areas.

“Thirty-eight per cent of the Queensland population actually live in rural and remote areas, so when you think about that, do we actually spend 38 per cent of the health budget in those same areas?” Dr Allan told the ABC.

With Australia’s population ageing and more people moving to regional areas, it’s more important than ever that older Australians have access to the services they need.

As the need for aged care services in regional areas continues to grow, so too does the demand for dedicated professionals
Aged care can offer a rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in the lives of others. For those wanting to be part of this special group of people, regional Australia offers endless opportunities.

Aged Care Resumes is here to support all your aged care application needs. We offer various services, including tailored resume writing and selection criteria support.

Article References

Ross, J & Nakamura, G (20 July 2025) ‘Lack of health care looms large in minds of ageing rural Australians’, ABC News, accessed 21 July 2025.