With just days until the federal election, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) challenges the incoming government to make rural healthcare a top priority.

Throughout the election campaign, ACRRM has called for transformational change to how governments support the healthcare of rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

ACRRM President Dr Sarah Chalmers says with one-third of Australians representing communities outside of the major urban areas, it will take specific solutions to address their healthcare needs.

“Recognising the positive commitments parties have made to address rural healthcare needs, we call on the incoming government to commit to taking immediate and strident action to fix healthcare access for rural and remote Australians.

“We know these communities can thrive when they have access to Rural Generalists, who are equipped with high-quality specialised skills which meet their communities’ needs.”

The College is calling for short and long-term strategies to tackle workforce issues and provide rural and remote communities with the healthcare they need and deserve, including:

  • Growing the Rural Generalist workforce to bring multi-skilled flexible doctors back to rural communities
  • Building strong, resilient, and sustainable healthcare services within rural and remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
  • Restoring the incentive to become a rural doctor
  • Addressing barriers to rural and remote training and practice
  • Leading an intergovernmental approach to set and uphold minimum standards of healthcare access for all Australians, wherever they live.

“ACRRM is committed to being a driving force for rural healthcare solutions,” Dr Chalmers says.

“We offer our experience and expertise to help achieve better health outcomes for our rural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”

ENDS

To view ACRRM’s election priorities, visit our Advocacy page.

 For further information, please contact communications manager Petrina Smith at p.smith@acrrm.org.au, 0414 820 847 or 1800 223 226.

ABOUT ACRRM

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine is the only College in Australia entirely dedicated to training and supporting Rural Generalists and rural General Practitioners to serve rural and remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Our vision is to have the right doctors, in the right places, with the right skills, providing rural and remote people with excellent health care.

For more information, visit acrrm.org.au.