Every few weeks, Alan Richardson leaves his home in regional Tasmania, hops on a plane to rural Queensland, and gets to work delivering babies.

It might sound like a sun chaser's dream, but it's not the warmer weather driving Dr Richardson's decision to leave behind a state that could really use his skill set.

"The reason I'm not working in Tasmania, even though I'd very much like to, is because there isn't a role for [me]," he said.

Dr Richardson is a rural generalist. He is a fully qualified general practitioner, has advanced skills in obstetrics, and works as a senior doctor across other areas such as paediatrics, emergency and internal medicine.

If it were up to him, he would spend his days travelling to north-west Tasmania rather than south-west Queensland.

"I've done a bit of wo

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