Queensland nursing and midwifery students in their final year will receive a $5000 payment if they undertake a placement at a regional or rural hospital.
The state government has set aside $22 million for the payments in the 2023/24 budget, which will be handed down on June 13.
Treasurer Cameron Dick said the money would help alleviate cost-of-living pressures on the state’s future frontline workers.
“It’ll also strengthen our health system and it’ll encourage more people to take up the opportunity to work in our healthcare system,” he told reporters on Sunday.
The government will work with education providers to finalise the scheme’s details before it is rolled out, Mr Dick said.
It’s expected about 1000 nursing and midwifery students will benefit from the payments each year.
The government last month announced other incentives to attract more healthcare workers to regional and rural areas.
Under that scheme, interstate and international workers who move to Queensland will receive a $10,000 payment when they start.
Another $10,000 will be handed out to them after a year of work.
Eligible workers include doctors, nurses, specialists, dentists and allied health professionals.
Medical practitioners who move to rural or remote areas will receive an additional $25,000 after three months, then another $25,000 after a year.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman confirmed about 786 people have registered their interest in the scheme.
“They’re actually from right across the country and even overseas, which is what we wanted,” she said on Sunday.
“We know if we are going to continue to care for Queenslanders, with everyone that’s moving here and our ageing population, then we need to attract workers.”