Across rural and remote Australia, many towns are struggling with something most communities take for granted: being able to walk into a local GP when you need. Doctors come and go, clinics rely on short-term locums, and the workload on the few GPs who stay can be enormous. It’s no surprise that many burn out or move back to the city. So, what’s the solution? One idea being discussed more often is job-sharing, where two doctors split the responsibilities of one full-time role. The idea is simple, but the million-dollar question remains: could sharing the load help keep more doctors in the bush?

Job-sharing is exactly what it sounds like: two doctors sharing the workload of one full-time GP position. Just like any other job-share role, the idea is to lighten the load for both doctors while still providing continuous care to the community. The arrangement would look different for each situation, whether GPs alternate days, work one half of the week, or even rotate from week to week. It’s about finding a rhythm that works for both doctors. It all comes down to flexibility, allowing doctors to study, travel and balance family life and other commitments, without leaving rural communities without this much-needed care.

There’s no doubt that life as a rural GP is extremely rewarding, but it can also be incredibly tough. These doctors are often working long days, while also taking on after-hours callouts. They have the weight of the community on their shoulders, and generally, have no one to share the load with. Add in family commitments and the impact of uprooting their life to an area with minimal facilities, fewer school choices and increased isolation, and it’s easy to see why burnout is so common.

When they do pack their bags and leave, the impact on the community is immediate. Patients are left without continuity of care, clinics struggle to find new locums and the community is left to travel for hours to find adequate care. It’s a stressful situation for everyone involved. That’s why job sharing is could be a welcome option. By taking away some of that solo pressure, GPs might be encouraged to stay longer and feel more supported in their role. At the end of the day it creates something that all GPs are striving for: balance.

The community also experiences the benefits. It offers a sense of stability, without the constant turnover. When GPs stay longer, relationships strengthen, communication improves and patients feel genuinely looked after. Having regular GPs stay long-term, they will understand the patients on a deeper level. It also widens the range of care available. Two doctors often bring two different backgrounds or areas of interest. For example, one might have experience in chronic disease management while the other is skilled in women’s health or paediatrics. Together, they can offer broader support than a single GP working alone.

While this all sounds great in theory, it still comes with some hurdles to overcome. From turning over the traditional structure of GP jobs to rethinking rosters, billing and in some cases, even accommodation, there are plenty of challenges as well.

For job-sharing to truly work in rural and remote communities, it needs the right foundations. Communication is key. Both doctors need strong, consistent handovers so patients don’t feel like they’re repeating their story every few days. When patients feel that both GPs understand their history and goals, confidence grows quickly.

Support from the practice is just as important. Clinics need flexible rostering, fair on-call arrangements and employment structures that allow part-time or split roles without creating financial or administrative headaches. Strong leadership helps set expectations early, making sure everyone – staff, patients and the wider community – understands how the model works.

And, of course, recruiting two GPs to the same town can be harder than attracting just one. Rural areas are already competing for a small pool of doctors, so finding a pair who want the same location and compatible schedules is not always simple. Rural Health Workforce Support Activity and state-based rural workforce agencies can help with recruitment, retention and planning. When all these pieces come together, job-sharing becomes more than a staffing solution – it becomes a sustainable way to keep quality healthcare in the bush.

Of course, job-sharing won’t work everywhere, and it won’t replace the need for better housing, stronger incentives, community support and long-term rural workforce planning. But as clinics look for practical, people-centred solutions, shared roles offer a simple, realistic option that aligns with what many modern GPs are asking for – flexibility, teamwork and a sustainable way to practise medicine.

In the end, if sharing the load helps even a handful of doctors stay longer in the bush, it’s an idea worth taking seriously. Rural communities deserve reliable, long-term healthcare, and job-sharing might just help make that possible.