Highlight news
With Australians heading to the polls this Saturday (3 May), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is pushing all political parties to take bold action on rural, remote, and First Nations healthcare.
More than seven million Australians living outside major cities face critical healthcare shortages, yet rural and remote health funding continues to lag.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the $6.5 billion annual underspend on rural healthcare is unacceptable - and must be addressed by the next government.
“Rural and remote Australians deserve the same access to healthcare as those in the cities, yet chronic underfunding continues to leave communities without essential services,” Dr Martin says.
“Rural Generalists (RGs) have the skills, knowledge, and commitment to deliver the right healthcare in the right places.
“We’ve welcomed commitments from major parties around bulk billing and medical training, but we will be looking to the incoming government to provide the detail - and a dedicated focus on rural, remote, and First Nations healthcare.
ACRRM has outlined the key investments needed to build a sustainable Rural Generalist (RG) workforce and improve healthcare delivery:
Expand the RG pathway – Invest to grow training places to 500 registrars annually and $30 million per year for rural prevocational training.
Secure and sustain rural maternity care – Stop the closure of rural birthing services and incentivise RGs trained in obstetrics and anaesthetics to work in rural areas.
Recognise Rural Generalists – Introduce specific MBS items to reflect the advanced skills of RGs and fund a national campaign promoting RG as a solution to rural workforce shortages.
Retain and support the rural workforce – Fund key infrastructure like accommodation to attract and keep healthcare workers in rural areas and properly remunerate senior rural doctors for their expertise.
Dr Martin says the stakes are high for rural and remote Australians.
“The policies we’ve seen so far are metro-centric, and without targeted consideration and deliberate investment, the healthcare divide for people living in the bush will continue to grow.
“It’s vital that rural, remote, and First Nations people receive healthcare that is informed by the realities of where they live and delivered by doctors who understand and are skilled in meeting their needs.
“The Coalition, through Senator Anne Ruston, has recognised the health needs of rural and remote Australians with commitments to address some of the key areas ACRRM had prioritised.
“Labor’s $200 million commitment to Medicare will likely be well suited to metropolitan locations, where patients can be directed to their doctor for follow-up care. However, in rural and remote areas, the success of this initiative depends on ensuring there are doctors available on the ground to see patients."
“In these final days of the campaign, we need all parties to commit to real, practical solutions - not just talk - so that every Australian, no matter their postcode, can access the care they deserve.
ACRRM stands ready to work with incoming policymakers to turn these commitments into action and secure a healthier future for rural and remote communities."
Read ACRRM’s election platform here.
More than seven million Australians living outside major cities face critical healthcare shortages, yet rural and remote health funding continues to lag.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the $6.5 billion annual underspend on rural healthcare is unacceptable - and must be addressed by the next government.
“Rural and remote Australians deserve the same access to healthcare as those in the cities, yet chronic underfunding continues to leave communities without essential services,” Dr Martin says.
“Rural Generalists (RGs) have the skills, knowledge, and commitment to deliver the right healthcare in the right places.
“We’ve welcomed commitments from major parties around bulk billing and medical training, but we will be looking to the incoming government to provide the detail - and a dedicated focus on rural, remote, and First Nations healthcare.
ACRRM has outlined the key investments needed to build a sustainable Rural Generalist (RG) workforce and improve healthcare delivery:
Expand the RG pathway – Invest to grow training places to 500 registrars annually and $30 million per year for rural prevocational training.
Secure and sustain rural maternity care – Stop the closure of rural birthing services and incentivise RGs trained in obstetrics and anaesthetics to work in rural areas.
Recognise Rural Generalists – Introduce specific MBS items to reflect the advanced skills of RGs and fund a national campaign promoting RG as a solution to rural workforce shortages.
Retain and support the rural workforce – Fund key infrastructure like accommodation to attract and keep healthcare workers in rural areas and properly remunerate senior rural doctors for their expertise.
Dr Martin says the stakes are high for rural and remote Australians.
“The policies we’ve seen so far are metro-centric, and without targeted consideration and deliberate investment, the healthcare divide for people living in the bush will continue to grow.
“It’s vital that rural, remote, and First Nations people receive healthcare that is informed by the realities of where they live and delivered by doctors who understand and are skilled in meeting their needs.
“The Coalition, through Senator Anne Ruston, has recognised the health needs of rural and remote Australians with commitments to address some of the key areas ACRRM had prioritised.
“Labor’s $200 million commitment to Medicare will likely be well suited to metropolitan locations, where patients can be directed to their doctor for follow-up care. However, in rural and remote areas, the success of this initiative depends on ensuring there are doctors available on the ground to see patients."
“In these final days of the campaign, we need all parties to commit to real, practical solutions - not just talk - so that every Australian, no matter their postcode, can access the care they deserve.
ACRRM stands ready to work with incoming policymakers to turn these commitments into action and secure a healthier future for rural and remote communities."
Read ACRRM’s election platform here.
All news
With Australians heading to the polls this Saturday (3 May), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is pushing all political parties to take bold action on rural, remote, and First Nations healthcare.
More than seven million Australians living outside major cities face critical healthcare shortages, yet rural and remote health funding continues to lag.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the $6.5 billion annual underspend on rural healthcare is unacceptable - and must be addressed by the next government.
“Rural and remote Australians deserve the same access to healthcare as those in the cities, yet chronic underfunding continues to leave communities without essential services,” Dr Martin says.
“Rural Generalists (RGs) have the skills, knowledge, and commitment to deliver the right healthcare in the right places.
“We’ve welcomed commitments from major parties around bulk billing and medical training, but we will be looking to the incoming government to provide the detail - and a dedicated focus on rural, remote, and First Nations healthcare.
ACRRM has outlined the key investments needed to build a sustainable Rural Generalist (RG) workforce and improve healthcare delivery:
Expand the RG pathway – Invest to grow training places to 500 registrars annually and $30 million per year for rural prevocational training.
Secure and sustain rural maternity care – Stop the closure of rural birthing services and incentivise RGs trained in obstetrics and anaesthetics to work in rural areas.
Recognise Rural Generalists – Introduce specific MBS items to reflect the advanced skills of RGs and fund a national campaign promoting RG as a solution to rural workforce shortages.
Retain and support the rural workforce – Fund key infrastructure like accommodation to attract and keep healthcare workers in rural areas and properly remunerate senior rural doctors for their expertise.
Dr Martin says the stakes are high for rural and remote Australians.
“The policies we’ve seen so far are metro-centric, and without targeted consideration and deliberate investment, the healthcare divide for people living in the bush will continue to grow.
“It’s vital that rural, remote, and First Nations people receive healthcare that is informed by the realities of where they live and delivered by doctors who understand and are skilled in meeting their needs.
“The Coalition, through Senator Anne Ruston, has recognised the health needs of rural and remote Australians with commitments to address some of the key areas ACRRM had prioritised.
“Labor’s $200 million commitment to Medicare will likely be well suited to metropolitan locations, where patients can be directed to their doctor for follow-up care. However, in rural and remote areas, the success of this initiative depends on ensuring there are doctors available on the ground to see patients."
“In these final days of the campaign, we need all parties to commit to real, practical solutions - not just talk - so that every Australian, no matter their postcode, can access the care they deserve.
ACRRM stands ready to work with incoming policymakers to turn these commitments into action and secure a healthier future for rural and remote communities."
Read ACRRM’s election platform here.
More than seven million Australians living outside major cities face critical healthcare shortages, yet rural and remote health funding continues to lag.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the $6.5 billion annual underspend on rural healthcare is unacceptable - and must be addressed by the next government.
“Rural and remote Australians deserve the same access to healthcare as those in the cities, yet chronic underfunding continues to leave communities without essential services,” Dr Martin says.
“Rural Generalists (RGs) have the skills, knowledge, and commitment to deliver the right healthcare in the right places.
“We’ve welcomed commitments from major parties around bulk billing and medical training, but we will be looking to the incoming government to provide the detail - and a dedicated focus on rural, remote, and First Nations healthcare.
ACRRM has outlined the key investments needed to build a sustainable Rural Generalist (RG) workforce and improve healthcare delivery:
Expand the RG pathway – Invest to grow training places to 500 registrars annually and $30 million per year for rural prevocational training.
Secure and sustain rural maternity care – Stop the closure of rural birthing services and incentivise RGs trained in obstetrics and anaesthetics to work in rural areas.
Recognise Rural Generalists – Introduce specific MBS items to reflect the advanced skills of RGs and fund a national campaign promoting RG as a solution to rural workforce shortages.
Retain and support the rural workforce – Fund key infrastructure like accommodation to attract and keep healthcare workers in rural areas and properly remunerate senior rural doctors for their expertise.
Dr Martin says the stakes are high for rural and remote Australians.
“The policies we’ve seen so far are metro-centric, and without targeted consideration and deliberate investment, the healthcare divide for people living in the bush will continue to grow.
“It’s vital that rural, remote, and First Nations people receive healthcare that is informed by the realities of where they live and delivered by doctors who understand and are skilled in meeting their needs.
“The Coalition, through Senator Anne Ruston, has recognised the health needs of rural and remote Australians with commitments to address some of the key areas ACRRM had prioritised.
“Labor’s $200 million commitment to Medicare will likely be well suited to metropolitan locations, where patients can be directed to their doctor for follow-up care. However, in rural and remote areas, the success of this initiative depends on ensuring there are doctors available on the ground to see patients."
“In these final days of the campaign, we need all parties to commit to real, practical solutions - not just talk - so that every Australian, no matter their postcode, can access the care they deserve.
ACRRM stands ready to work with incoming policymakers to turn these commitments into action and secure a healthier future for rural and remote communities."
Read ACRRM’s election platform here.