Aussie town offering $680,000 salary and a free four-bedroom HOUSE to fill a vital profession – but there’s a catch
A tiny outback town in Queensland is offering a hefty six-figure salary to anyone willing to move there and work as its only doctor.
Residents of Julia Creek, 280km east of Mt Isa and with a population of 549, are hoping the financial lure will be enough to attract a new GP.
The pay is generous, offering between $476,082 up to $680,277 a year, with added perks including rent-free accommodation.
An experienced local GP could be better paid than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who earns $607,516.
The successful applicant will also receive five weeks annual leave, 3.6 weeks of professional development leave, regional and rural attraction allowance, vehicle allowance and inaccessibility allowance.
‘You will be at the heart of the Julia Creek community,’ the advertisement by McKinlay Shire Multipurpose Health Service said.
‘Live and work surrounded by the expansive landscape of outback Queensland.’
Dr Adam Louws has been Julia Creek’s sole doctor since he moved his wife and four children from Brisbane in 2022, and says the posting has its attractions.
Julia Creek, a tiny town in outback Queensland, is offering a hefty six-figure salary to anyone willing to move there and work as its only doctor
Dr Adam Louws (pictured) has worked as the sole doctor in Julia Creek since 2022
‘In terms of the sense of community, the openness, it’s like stepping back in time about 50 years,’ he told the ABC.
‘Everyone knows their neighbour, kids are running around, everyone keeps an eye out for each other, it’s just a welcoming place.
‘In Brisbane, we were on a postage stamp, we had the maximum number of chickens – three – and a tiny planter box.’
Dr Louws and his family are now packing up and moving on for family reasons, but with no regrets.
‘It’s everything that I hoped it would be,’ he said.
‘I just really hope they’re able to find another doctor quickly.’
Before Dr Louws arrival, Julia Creek had gone without a full-time doctor for more than 10 years, and locals had to travel hours for treatment.
The nearest doctor was 147km away in Richmond, a three-hour round trip.
Julia Creek (pictured) has a population of roughly 549 people, according to the 2021 census
Julia Creek has a six-bed day hospital staffed by nurses which can provide low-level care, and temporary care for patients waiting to be transferred in an emergency.
‘Yes, things can get hectic at times,’ Dr Louws said when he first took up the job.
‘On my first day, we had an emergency that had to be transferred out – a process I had to learn very quickly.
‘But overall it’s a lot less pressure than people expect. They expect all these calls at 2am on a Sunday morning, that hasn’t happened yet,’ he said.
Members of the community shared their support for Dr Louws on social media.
‘Best wishes for your future Dr Adam and family, I know my Mum will miss you,’ someone said.
‘Enjoy your next post, Adam,’ another said.
‘Your perseverance and commitment to the community is a credit to you.’
