The hard border between Queensland and New South Wales has left some hospitals, south of the border, desperately understaffed and nurses fearing burnout.
Hospital cleaners, speech pathologists and social workers are among the professions no longer deemed essential, meaning those who live on the Queensland side of the border cannot commute to work.
Those forced to work long hours to fill the void left by their colleagues trapped at home in Queensland, are exhausted - and there is no relief in sight.
The Queensland Government has turned down proposed amendments to the hard border, following two days of high-level talks with New South Wales counterparts.
