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Experienced and specialist health professionals in northern Australia are essential for providing an effective health service in regional and remote communities. To ensure the quality and sustainability of this service provision, health professionals need access to learning experiences at advanced and postgraduate level that support their continued engagement in the community. The impact of regional isolation on professional development can result in experienced health professionals facing stark choices when considering their professional learning or studying to achieve qualifications in specialised areas, that is, whether to remain in the regional community or move to a major city to study and work in a specialist team, knowing the impact on that community as they are difficult to replace. This paper explores the key themes in developing learning networks that support health professionals' engagement in the regional or remote community while undertaking specialised advanced training, with particular focus on the potential of linking on-the-job professional learning experiences, external university study and regionally based networks to develop multifaceted learning communities that include health professionals in regional and urban areas and health educators.