Rural hospital welcomes first student midwives in more than a decade

The central Queensland community of Biloela fought for years for the return of local birthing services after the town's birthing unit was shut down in 2022.

The birthing bypass meant expectant mothers were forced to travel to Rockhampton or Gladstone, more than 120 kilometres away, to give birth, with no midwives at the local hospital.

With maternity care back online as of last month, the town faces its next challenge: attracting and retaining the people who will keep it running.

Emma Rideout, 24, is a registered nurse who grew up in Biloela and is now training to be a midwife at the local hospital.

Given the hospital's recent staffing struggles, Ms Rideout said working locally was not something she had thought would be possible.

"Midwifery was always something I'd had in the back of my mind that I thought I wanted to try one day. I never thought it would be possible to study [here] and not have to leave," she said.

Ms Rideout is one of three local midwifery students at Biloela. It is the first cohort to be based in the hospital in 13 years.

She said it had already been a fulfilling experience.

"It has been really great to be a part of this team at such a special time … I think it's kind of like pioneering.

"Being born and raised in a rural community and then working at the hospital as a nurse, it's made it very certain for me that that's the kind of setting that I want to work in."

Attracting workforce a 'challenge' for regional communities

Central Queensland Health chief executive Lisa Blackler said the viability of Biloela's maternity services relied on attracting and retaining midwives in the area.

She said attracting a workforce to the region was the lifeline that reopened the unit, and retaining it was crucial to keeping it operational.

"You have to have the workforce to deliver the service,"

Ms Blackler said.

"We have to accept that we will have a transient workforce, but it's how we build the pipeline and get a core sort of foundation of staff that do stay.

"I think if we can attract people like Emma … that is a really positive story … we've got to lean in when people show interest in extending their skills and abilities."

Speaking at a press conference in September to announce the return of birthing to Biloela, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said his government was committed to keeping maternity care online in regional hospitals.

"Queenslanders living in regional communities need to know that they matter, that they count for something, and that wherever it is safe to do so that we restore things and continue to deliver services close to where they live," he said.

Diane Tamariki had been a midwife for almost 30 years before accepting the job of midwifery unit manager in Biloela.

She said she was drawn to the opportunity to develop a new model of care in the reopened service.

"It's really hard having to start something from scratch but it's also really rewarding being able to work with the community and help to deliver a service that is much needed."

Ms Tamariki has already laid roots in the community, coaching a netball team, meeting her partner and even buying a home, helping to convince her to stay for good.

"I want to see this grow and to be sustainable," she said.

"The medical workforce has really struggled [to get people in rural areas] and so this is a way of being able to support that but to provide a service to the community."

While regional recruitment remains a major hurdle for rural health care across the country, Emma Rideout believes the town's rural charm is its greatest selling point.

"There's something really special about working in a rural hospital … you get to care for people in the hospital and then see them downtown and they might pull you up and recognise you," she said.

"I think it's just a great little town and obviously I am a bit biased being from here but … I would recommend it to anyone. Just come and see what you're missing," she said.