One GP locum position in Gunnedah was on Wednesday flagged “urgent”, alongside another joint role in Quirindi and Tamworth.

“Immediate to March 31,” the advertisement reads. “$1200 per day at five-doctor practice. 

“This vacancy may be eligible for an Rural Doctors Network Independent Locum Doctor travel subsidy of up to $1000.”

But despite generous pay and allowances, the position remains vacant at Gunnedah Rural Health Centre.

Both the health centre and North West Family Medical in Gunnedah were unavailable for comment on Wednesday. 

Doctors were also busy with patients at the Barber St practice where six doctors were on the books, five permanently and one as a registrar.

The skills shortage follows the announcement of the federally-supported Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund.

The program will support 60 full-time places annually, the equivalent of 240 accredited intern rotations, to access a training rotation in primary care settings in regional and rural areas.

Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) president Dr Ewen McPhee said the program will ensure more doctors in more country towns.

"The more we can deliver a seamless path for getting young doctors from medical school into rural generalist practice, the better things will look for delivering a vibrant rural generalist doctor workforce for the future, and the more our rural communities will benefit," Dr McPhee said.

The young doctors fund replaces the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program which was discontinued by the Coalition Government at the end of 2014.

Rural Doctors Association of NSW spokesman, Dr Ian Kamerman, who based in Tamworth, said the ability to lure and secure young doctors in the bush is vital.

“It will ensure our theatres and labour wards remain open... make sure people have confidence in going to the hospital,” he said.

Like any profession, he said doctors do need a break every once in a while and better support with more staff would help.

“We always need more doctors out here,” he said.

Dr Kamerman was on Wednesday attending a conference about the remote locations scheme which focused on even smaller communities.