http://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/

Mackay Hospital and Health Service, 475 Bridge Road, Mackay (2026)

03/09/2026

Mackay HHS is adding 34 beds to ease pressure across the health service and support patients waiting for their next step in care.

Two projects across our Sarina Hospital campuses are increasing capacity for patients experiencing longer hospital stays while they wait for placement with aged care or other services.

A new 17-bed modular inpatient unit will be added to the Sarina Hospital on Brewers Road, expected to be operational within six months.

The modular unit is in addition to the transformation of the old Sarina Hospital which will provide a 17-bed transitional care facility at 1 Hospital Street.

Together, these projects will provide the right setting for patients who no longer need intensive hospital care, while helping free up beds for people waiting for elective surgery and other healthcare.

Read more about this important project here: https://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/sarina-projects-to-provide-more-beds-for-transitional-care

03/09/2026

Our Emergency Department is here for everyone, but it may not always be your best option. You may be able to get help quicker from another care service.
This handy guide provides advice on where to go for different conditions.

🩺Mackay’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at 11-13 Peel Street is now open 7days a week from 8am to 10pm. It’s available for illnesses or injuries that need same-day attention but aren’t emergencies.

Other care options:
💻 Virtual Emergency Care is available for non-life-threatening concerns https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
👩‍⚕️See your GP for ongoing care and common illnesses.
💊 Your local pharmacy can help with many everyday health concerns and advice.
☎ Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) to talk to a registered nurse about whether you should see a GP, visit a pharmacy, or go to an emergency department.

01/09/2026

Ready to step outside your comfort zone and grow your nursing career? 👩🏻‍⚕️👨🏻‍⚕️

Discover the opportunities waiting for you in Mackay Hospital and Health Service’s (HHS) regional facilities, where every day brings new experiences, broader clinical exposure and the chance to make a real difference in local communities.

Just ask Dysart Hospital registered nurse Reanna Huntington-Tildsley, who stepped outside her comfort zone and moved her life from the Gold Coast to Dysart – and hasn’t looked back.

With no previous emergency nursing experience, the move to a small rural hospital in 2024 was a leap into the unknown. Two years later, she describes it as one of the best career decisions she's made.

Originally born in the United Kingdom, Reanna moved to the Gold Coast with her family as a child before completing a Bachelor of Nursing at Southern Cross University. After her graduate year at Gold Coast University Hospital and Robina Hospital, she relocated to Dysart while her partner was working FIFO in the local mining industry.

"I saw it as an opportunity to experience rural nursing," Reanna said.

"I knew it would push me outside my comfort zone, particularly without an emergency nursing background, but I was keen to learn.

"Looking back, it was one of the best career decisions I've made. Working in a rural hospital has accelerated my learning and given me experiences that have helped shape me into a more confident and capable nurse."

Read more about Reanna's journey here: https://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/rural-move-a-rewarding-step-outside-of-comfort-zone

APPLY TODAY ✍🏻

📌 Enrolled nurses, rural facilities
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-573065

📌 Registered nurses, rural facilities
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-635351-OP

01/09/2026

Proserpine Hospital clinical nurse (rural generalist) Alicia Mansbridge has been recognised for her innovative approach to improving care for frail older people.

⭐Alicia won the Sustainable Organisation Award at the 2026 Let’s Celebrate Staff Awards.

She was recognised for her leadership in developing BRIDGE (Building Recovery, Independence and Discharge Guidance for the Elderly), a nurse-led program designed to close the gaps between hospital and community care for older patients following discharge.

BRIDGE provides a co-ordinated pathway for vulnerable older people who need ongoing support but may not require another hospital visit. The program aims to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions by proactively supporting patients after discharge and connecting them with appropriate specialist, primary and community care.

Through structured triage and coordinated referrals, eligible patients can access geriatric expertise without having to return to hospital.

A key feature of BRIDGE is its use of telehealth, which allows patients and their families to access specialist care from home.

Alicia has established rapid geriatric assessments via telehealth and multidisciplinary consultations with Geriatric Care Australia Nurse Practitioners. The model also provides GPs with timely written recommendations, helping ensure care remains coordinated after the consultation.

For frail older people, this approach can remove significant barriers such as travel, mobility difficulties and lengthy waits for specialist appointments. It also supports a more sustainable health service by reducing the need for travel, vehicles, office space and hospital infrastructure, while allowing appropriate care to be delivered virtually.

BRIDGE is supported by clinical nurse-led triage and oversight, weekly multidisciplinary meetings, formal partnerships with Geriatric Care Australia and clear referral and communication processes.

Early results are demonstrating benefits for patients, families and the health system, including more timely access to specialist geriatric assessment, improved care coordination and greater involvement of families in care planning.

Patients can receive support in their own homes, helping them feel more informed, connected and confident as they recover and maintain their independence.

The Sustainable Organisation Award recognises Alicia’s leadership in creating a practical model that not only meets the needs of older people today, but has the potential to be adapted and replicated across other rural health services.

BRIDGE demonstrates how innovation, collaboration and smart use of technology can deliver better care while creating a more sustainable health system.

Congratulations Alicia! 🏆

30/08/2026

The Mackay Base Hospital Emergency Department is very busy right now.

We are caring for a lot of patients who are extremely unwell, and they need complex care and longer hospital stays.

Because our dedicated medical teams are prioritising these patients, others with conditions that are not life-threatening will face much longer wait times than usual.

We are fully staffed and equipped to care for our community, but we need to focus on those who most need our help.

Thank you for your patience and support, and please consider alternative care options for minor illnesses and injuries.

🏥 The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at 11-13 Peel Street is available for illnesses or injuries that need same-day attention but aren’t emergencies.
🛌 Stay in your pyjamas and use Virtual ED for non-life-threatening concerns https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
👩‍⚕️ See your GP for ongoing care and common illnesses.
💊 Your local pharmacy can help with many everyday health concerns and advice.
☎ Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) to talk to a registered nurse about whether you should see a GP, visit a pharmacy, or go to an emergency department.

🚑 Always call 000 or attend ED for chest pain, severe breathing difficulties, stroke symptoms, major injuries, or other emergencies.

Choosing the right care helps keep Emergency Departments free for those who need urgent lifesaving treatment.

27/08/2026

Maria Rowlands’ lived experience has helped her give a voice to hospital patients from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.

When she joined the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (Mackay HHS) Consumer Advisory Partners (CAP) in 2021, she was working with migrant women through a local not-for-profit organisation.

A fellow volunteer, who had also been a CAP member, told Maria about the opportunity to join the reference group of community members to help shape regional healthcare and encouraged her to apply.

“I loved the idea of understanding the HHS better and becoming a link to the women and families I was working with,” she said.

Having moved from Spain in 1998, Maria knew firsthand that settling into another country could be challenging. From finding a place in a new community to navigating a different language and healthcare system, it was often an overwhelming and isolating experience for migrants.

Being from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background, Maria offered both personal and professional experience to the CAP. Being new to the country, working with other migrants, and speaking both English and Spanish, she understood the importance of making healthcare accessible and easy to navigate.

Having managed a chronic condition herself, Maria’s perspective helped ensure the experience and needs of consumers were considered.

As part of the CAP, she met with other members and staff every two months to learn about the HHS and offer input on a range of topics, from health literacy to quality improvement.

She advocated for others in the region by providing her own perspective as a patient.

“Mentally you always put yourself in a hospital bed and try to understand the needs of the patients who have to stay at the hospital,” she said.

“As a CAP member, your input can help improve other patients’ wellbeing.

“I'd like to thank the Mackay HHS for giving consumers a presence and a voice. I think everyone in the CAP has a lot to contribute based on their life experience and passion for healthcare in this region,” Maria said.

Mackay HHS Chief Executive Sean Birgan acknowledged Maria’s contribution to the health service.

“Maria has been a valued member of the CAP and a voice for consumers,” he said.

“Her lived experience, connection with our diverse communities and genuine passion for improving patient care have helped us see our HHS through a different lens.

“We are grateful for the insight she has shared with us over the past five years.”

Find out more about the Consumer Advisory Partners https://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/get-involved

26/08/2026

The Mackay Base Hospital Emergency Department is very busy right now.

We are caring for a lot of patients who are extremely unwell, and they need complex care and longer hospital stays.

Because our dedicated medical teams are prioritising these patients, others with conditions that are not life-threatening will face much longer wait times than usual.

We are fully staffed and equipped to care for our community, but we need to focus on those who most need our help.

Please consider alternative care options for minor illnesses and injuries.

🛌 Stay rugged up under the blanket and in your pyjamas with Virtual ED for non-life-threatening concerns https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
👩‍⚕️ See your GP for ongoing care and common illnesses.
💊 Your local pharmacy can help with many everyday health concerns and advice.
🏥 The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is available for illnesses or injuries that need same-day attention but aren’t emergencies.
🚑 Always call 000 or attend ED for chest pain, severe breathing difficulties, stroke symptoms, major injuries, or other emergencies.
☎ Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) to talk to a registered nurse about whether you should see a GP, visit a pharmacy, or go to an emergency department.

Choosing the right care helps keep Emergency Departments free for those who need urgent lifesaving treatment.

25/08/2026

Ready for your next career move? 🤔

Whether you’re starting your career or looking for a new challenge, Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) has a variety of clinical and non-clinical opportunities across the Mackay region including at rural sites in Bowen, Proserpine, Sarina, Moranbah, Dysart, Clermont and Collinsville.

Mackay HHS is one of our region’s biggest employers. Working with us means joining a supportive, collaborative team where you can grow your skills, broaden your experience and make a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of our communities.

You can enjoy:
💡 Diverse career and learning opportunities
💡 Supportive teams and strong professional connections
💡 Opportunities to develop your skills and experience
💡 Make a real difference for patients and communities
💡 Build a rewarding career in regional Queensland

And it’s not just about the work. The Mackay region offers an incredible lifestyle with beautiful beaches, relaxed communities, outdoor adventures and more time to enjoy the things that matter outside of work.

A rewarding career. A great lifestyle. A place to make a difference. Could your next career move be with Mackay HHS?

👉 Check out our current opportunities and find your next role with us.

📌 Clinical Director Support Officer, Intensive Care Services, Mackay
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-690355

📌 Business Support Officer (workforce), Division of Medical Services, Mackay
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-690348

📌 Digital Change and Learning Trainer, Digital Health Solutions, Mackay
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-690661

📌 Home Care worker, Clermont Hospital
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-689829

📌 Senior Radiographer, Bowen
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-690003

📌 Physiotherapist, Mackay
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-690467

📌 Physiotherapist (new graduate), Mackay Base Hospital
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-690187

📌 Team Leader, Indigenous Mental Health Workforce, Continuing Care Services
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-689869

📌 GP Rural Generalist Anaesthetist, Proserpine
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-MK688727

📌 Principal House Officer Emergency, Mackay Base Hospital
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobtools/jncustomsearch.viewFullSingle?in_organid=15550&in_jnCounter=223156314

📌 Enrolled nurses, various locations
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-573065

📌 Registered nurses, various locations and specialities
https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-575017-OP

25/08/2026

It’s Speech Pathology Week (23–29 August), and we’re celebrating the incredible speech pathologists who help patients find their voice, communicate what matters and eat and drink safely. 🗣️

From supporting someone recovering from a stroke to helping a child develop communication skills, assessing swallowing difficulties, supporting patients in critical care and finding new ways for people to communicate, speech pathologists play a vital role across our hospitals and community services.

They work alongside doctors, nurses and allied health teams to support recovery, independence and safe discharge, while also providing outreach and telehealth services to help connect people across our region.

Every patient is different, which means speech pathology is a profession built on creativity, problem-solving and connection.

This year’s theme, Communication creates possibility, reflects the difference they make every day in helping people connect, learn, make choices, participate and thrive.

A big thank you to our amazing Mackay HHS Speech Pathology team for everything you do for our patients, families and communities. ❤️

24/08/2026

Mackay Community Health on Nelson Street will undergo an $18.5 million upgrade to enhance the way we deliver mental health, alcohol and other drugs assessment and treatment and sexual health services to the Mackay community.

The upgrade will focus on increasing privacy and safety with an improved facility layout, modern clinical spaces, updated infrastructure and new equipment.

Works will be undertaken in two stages to ensure no disruption to appointments, services and general access. The centre’s phone numbers will remain the same.

Paynters have been awarded the project contract, with works expected to commence on site from 7 September and be completed by the end of 2027.

Read more about this important project here: https://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/mackay-community-health-centre-to-receive-upgrade

Mackay Hospital and Health Service

03/09/2026

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