In this episode of the Regional Health Solutions Podcast, hosts William Mundt and Jaden Frame speak with Linda Jorgensen, CEO of St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital. Linda shares her unique insights into leading a private hospital in regional Queensland and the complex challenges facing healthcare leaders outside metropolitan areas. From funding inequities to workforce shortages and the push for preventative care, Linda outlines a compelling vision for a sustainable and collaborative future for regional health.

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/

In this episode of the Regional Health Solutions Podcast, William Mundt and Jaden Frame are joined by rural workforce expert Dr Cath Cosgrave. Together, they explore the Attract, Connect, Stay framework — a practical, evidence-based approach to improving healthcare workforce attraction and retention in rural and regional Australia.

Find out more about the framework at https://attractconnectstay.com.au

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/

In this episode of Regional Health Solutions, we have a brilliant conversation with Jason Eldering, the CEO of Southern Cross Care QLD. Jason began his professional life as a golfer, so he tells us about how he went from there to a career in Aged Care.

With a staff of over 1,300, SCCQ provides compassionate care and support to over 2,600 individuals across 13 residential aged care homes, 5 retirement villages, and over 1,200 home care clients in metropolitan and rural Queensland.

Jason’s work with SCC gives him unique insights to share about Regional Health Solutions, which is why we asked him to come on the podcast.

In this conversation with Jason, recorded in mid 2024, we discuss the challenges with Aged Care in Australia right now and how he sees it evolving over the next 10 years. We discuss the workforce challenges in rural health care as well as the economic benefits of health and aged care facilities in regional towns.

Jason tells us about the $36m Southern Cross Care project in Chinchilla–which at the time of recording was still being built but is now in operation as of February 2025– and how good partnerships are key to success in regional initiatives, such as the one SCC has with Western Downs Regional Council. 

We cover the need to prioritise relationships, community and social aspects in not just aged care, but healthcare and life in general, and why listening to community needs is key when addressing challenges in regional Australia.

We finish the interview discussing the challenge of navigating complex healthcare systems for older Australians, the fragmented healthcare continuum and the ways a combination of political will, funding model changes and more proactive collaboration could unify healthcare delivery. Enjoy the podcast!

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/

Overview:

In this episode of Regional Health Solutions, we have an inspiring conversation with Dr Rolf Gomes, founder and director of the Heart of Australia network. Rolf is a passionate advocate for improving access to specialist healthcare in rural and remote communities. Through Heart of Australia, he has pioneered the use of mobile medical clinics to deliver life-saving diagnostic and specialist services to people in regional and outback Australia who would otherwise have to travel long distances for care. This episode was recorded in late 2024.

Heart of Australia is transforming the way healthcare is delivered in the regions, and Rolf’s insights into innovation, logistics, and patient-centred care make for a compelling discussion. We hope you enjoy this episode!

What You’ll Learn:

• How Dr Gomes’ early career inspired a bold solution to rural health access.
• How Heart of Australia delivers specialist care via mobile, high-tech clinics.
• Why private enterprise can be a powerful model for delivering healthcare.
• How strategic partnerships enable mobile clinics to serve remote communities.
• The role of government investment in strengthening regional health systems.
• How future tech like AI and drones could shape the next chapter of regional health.

Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Support local solutions: How can you champion rural health initiatives in your area?
2. Innovate in your own context: What barriers could be solved in your workplace or region with a little creative thinking?
3. Foster collaboration: Are there untapped partnerships in your network that could lead to better outcomes?

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/

Overview:

Welcome back to the Regional Health Solutions Podcast! In this episode, hosts William Mundt and Jaden Frame speak with Associate Professor Geoff Argus, Director of Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH) and a Board Director with the Australian Rural Health Education Network and the National Rural Health Alliance.

Geoff has a professional background as a Clinical Psychologist and is passionate about building the health workforce in rural areas. In this episode, we focus on Geoff’s work with SQRH, which is funded by the University of Queensland’s Department of Rural Health and established in late 2017.

Located in Toowoomba, Charleville, and Chinchilla, the SQRH footprint covers the Darling Downs, South Burnett and South West Queensland regions. Geoff brings deep insight into the complex challenges and opportunities facing the rural health workforce in Australia. This conversation was recorded in mid 2024.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why attracting and retaining healthcare workers in rural areas remains a major challenge, and some potential solutions
• How implementing a "grow your own" model of attraction and retention can help develop a local health workforce
• Why telehealth should enhance, not replace, face-to-face healthcare in regional communities
• How the Nursing Allied Health Graduate Outcomes Tracking Study (NAHGOT) is helping understand the factors that lead to rural conversion of healthcare students
• The need to strengthen primary care models and the importance of policy change in addressing funding
• Why economic development and community engagement are essential for rural health and liveability

Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Learn About NAHGOT: Explore how this research is shaping health data.
2. Get Involved Locally: Consider how your local government or organisation can support community health efforts.
3. Support Integrated Care: Think about how telehealth can complement your services while keeping local providers at the core.
4. Advocate for Wellbeing: Recognise the strong link between rural health and economic development, and use this knowledge to push for change.



Join us as we explore practical strategies, community-driven approaches, and data-informed insights to support rural health in Australia.

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/

In this opening episode of the Regional Health Solutions podcast, we explore the origins of STATIM and unpack the complex challenges facing regional and rural healthcare in Australia. Drawing on diverse perspectives from finance to nursing, hosts William Mundt and Jaden Frame share their vision for creating sustainable, community-driven solutions that improve the liveability of regional communities.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why strong health systems are essential for the long-term liveability of rural and regional towns.
• How STATIM is redesigning the agency model to build a sustainable healthcare workforce.
• Opportunities in local training and micro-credentialing to shape the next generation of health professionals in the regions.
• What the “STATIM Score” is and how it helps identify regional healthcare needs.
• Ways individuals and businesses can support better healthcare outcomes in their communities.

Meet the Hosts:

Jaden Frame brings expertise in finance and allied health business, while William Mundt offers deep clinical knowledge as an RN and Director of Nursing. Together, they shine a light on the urgent issues and untapped opportunities in regional healthcare.

Take Action:

• Connect: Join our network of regional leaders and healthcare changemakers.
• Reflect: Consider how your community’s health services impact its future.
• Follow: Follow the podcast to stay informed and inspired.

Join the Movement:

We’re here to spark real, actionable change in regional healthcare across Australia. Thanks for tuning in—we’re glad you’re here. Together, let’s build stronger, healthier communities.

Follow now: Follow the Regional Health Solutions Podcast on your favourite platform so you never miss an episode.

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/

Season 1 is on the way! Hit follow in your podcast app now to make sure you get the episodes automatically when they are released.

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/

Welcome to the Regional Health Solutions podcast, with your hosts Jaden Frame and William Mundt of STATIM.

For resources and more conversations, visit https://statim.com.au/podcast and be part of the journey towards better health outcomes in regional Australia.

The Regional Health Solutions Podcast is produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene for Perk Digital https://perkdigital.com.au/