Geoff is the inaugural Director of Southern Queensland Rural Health. A Clinical Psychologist by professional background he is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Queensland and adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology with the University of Southern Queensland. Based in Toowoomba, Geoff has worked in regional and rural health and community care for over two decades and has a deep knowledge of both the challenges and opportunities in delivering quality health care in rural Australia.

Geoff is a Board Director with the Australian Rural Health Education Network which represents the 16 Australian University Departments of Rural Health. He is also a Board Director with the National Rural Health Alliance, a rural health peak body with a membership of 44 national organisations representing health consumers, health care professionals, service providers, health educators, students and the Indigenous health sector.

Carrie Bourke is a dedicated Registered Nurse and Midwife with 45 years of experience in both private and public health sectors. With a solid foundation in clinical nursing, midwifery and extensive expertise in regional and rural nursing and midwifery management, Carrie has developed a diverse skill set through her qualifications in Child, Youth & Family Health, Immunisation, and Rural & Isolated Practice. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Healthcare Leadership.

Deeply passionate about rural healthcare, Carrie is committed to enhancing the well-being of rural communities. Her extensive experience and leadership have established her as a respected figure in the healthcare landscape, where she advocates for equitable access to quality care and focuses on developing clinicians to support these communities.

Nicola’s background as a Physiotherapist in rural and regional areas has developed her passion for improving health outcomes.

She has always thrived on the challenge of working within a multidisciplinary team and sees Interprofessional education as the key to furthering both the current and future workforce’s ability to meet the ever evolving consumer population.

Christie brings an extensive range of experience as a Registered Nurse and Midwife to her role as Deputy Director for South West, based in Charleville.

Christie has had the privilege of working within rural health for her entire nursing and midwifery career. Starting off as a Graduate Nurse in the northwest she soon fell in love with the red dirt, lively community, and interesting characters that you meet while working in rural and remote areas of Queensland.

Christie has gone on to gain a wide range of experience in rural health, with a strong background in emergency nursing, caseload midwifery, patient safety, clinical education, and management.

Dayle has worked across both private and public sectors in Nursing, Midwifery, Management, Mental Health and Education. Dayle is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Accredited Mental Health First Aid Trainer. For the last four years, Dayle has been with SQRH as a Clinical Educator for Nursing and Mental Health Nursing and more recently as Coordinator of the SQRH Health and Wellness Clinic in Toowoomba.

Working in rural areas across Queensland for over 30 years, Dayle is passionate about rural health and creating change to support an increase in the quality and quantity of undergraduate student rural clinical placements with the aim of supporting the growth of the rural workforce.