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Harriet Ochsenbein cannot imagine returning to the hustle and bustle of working life in the city.
The second-year paramedic made the move from Melbourne to the Gippsland town of Leongatha, population of about 6,000, in July as part of her work with Ambulance Victoria.
Returning home is one of the furthest things from her mind.
"Originally I was commuting to Leongatha every day, but then I fell in love with the community down here in Gippsland," Ms Ochsenbein said.
The 26-year-old said more than a dozen of her fellow second-year paramedics were in the same boat.
Harriet Ochsenbein and her cat Loki have settled into life in the country in Gippsland. (Supplied: Harriet Ochsenbein)
There's just something about the fresh country air and community — not to mention the more affordable rental market — that has them hooked.
"I mean, I've had people stop me in the street that were patients of mine to say thank you," she said.
"None of that ever happened when I was working in metropolitan Melbourne."
A growing trend
The latest tranche of research from the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) reveals more people are considering following Ms Ochsenbein's example.
The number of capital city-dwellers considering a move to the country has doubled over the past 18 months, with 40 per cent of respondents to the group's latest national survey pondering a move.
Liz Ritchie believes the increase should be a warning for policymakers. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)
RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie said this number, while in many respects a positive, should also ring alarm bells for policymakers, industry and regional leaders.
"Demand for regional living has never been higher, but as a nation, we are not keeping pace with delivering the fundamental building blocks that are needed," she said.
Ms Ritchie said that things like housing remain an "Achilles heel" in the plan to revitalise regional areas, with a lack of homes deterring city dwellers from considering a move to doing it.
"Many regions are already struggling with housing, particularly rental markets, and until region-specific policy measures are put in place, this will only be further magnified," she said.
Supply and demand
The RAI has singled out Cairns in far north Queensland as a regional city feeling the housing squeeze.
The town's population has grown by 5.2 per cent over the past five years, resulting in a rental squeeze.
"If this trend continues, we could see the region grow to more than 280,000 residents by 2026 — far surpassing current government projections,” Advance Cairns CEO Jacinta Reddan said.
Cairns is in the midst of a population boom, according to the RAI. (ABC Far North: Holly Richardson)
Ms Reddan said Cairns has had a rental vacancy rate of less than 1 per cent for 40 of the last 50 months.
The RAI's progress report shows regional Australia's rental vacancy rate has dropped by 0.2 per cent over the past year to 1.3 per cent, and that building approvals and the percentage of migrants settling in the regions are also down.
However, at the same time, there's news the RAI is celebrating.
The number of medical practitioners living in the regions has increased, as has the percentage of people aged 15-39 living there.
But that, according to Liz Ritchie, means jobs are needed.
"The RAI is calling for a long-term plan for regional Australia’s future that considers population movement, the skilled workforce requirement, service provision and infrastructure needs," she said.
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For some who have already made the jump, the benefits are clear. It is now about sharing the news.
Zoe Carney moved from metropolitan Melbourne to country Victoria in January to take up a position as a psychology teacher in the state's north-west.
It prompted her to share her story on TikTok to inspire other teachers to take the plunge.
Zoe Carney moved to a regional area in January this year. (Supplied: TikTok)
"The work-life balance has been amazing, and financially it's been a huge advantage as well," Ms Carney said.
The 29-year-old lives in a town where everyone knows her name, and her students know where she lives.
It's led to practice exams being left in her mailbox after school, an endearing but personal part of the job she loves.
Zoe has started a TikTok page where she demystifies what teaching in a regional area is like. (Supplied: @ZoeTeaching, TikTok)
"You can really spend time helping the students and feel like you're making a big difference in their learning, and being a positive role model for them," she said
"I think a lot of teachers either don't know about the opportunity ... or maybe the value they could get from moving to the country."
Back in Inverloch, Harriet Ochsenbein is settling into the groove of country life, and looking forward to a summer by the beach.
She's not sure how long the romance and relaxed lifestyle of country Victoria will keep her and her cat Loki, but she has no desire to work in metropolitan Melbourne again.
"In metro Melbourne, it's very quick: one in, one out," she said.
"You get ramped at hospital for a really long time and everyone seems pretty grumpy and overworked. Whereas you come out here and people are so grateful for the work you do.
"The paramedics out here … we've created our own family and I think that's more likely to happen in a rural area than a metropolitan area."