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The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) says last night’s Federal Budget is a step forward for the Albanese Government’s election commitment to improve health outcomes for rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says this Federal Budget invests in rural and remote-specific healthcare solutions and helps to address the shortage of healthcare staff and resources.
“We note the commitment to innovatively revamp Australia's primary healthcare system and strengthen Medicare, and expect that this will include flexible, and fit-for-purpose programs to support primary care in rural and remote communities,” Dr Halliday says.
“The government must also focus on addressing barriers to rural and remote general practice training which is essential to attract and retain a skilled specialist Rural Generalist (RG) workforce.
“ACRRM has long advocated for the need to restore the value proposition for rural general practice and direct funding towards comprehensive primary care that is locally based and designed to meet the needs of people living outside the urban footprint.
“Appropriate funding for general practice and primary care is the single greatest measure which can be taken to reduce the impact on our hospital system, and to improve the health of the nation more generally.
“In particular, the specialist RG model of practice has been shown to be the best model to meet the healthcare needs of rural and remote communities,” Dr Halliday says.
Other initiatives supported by the College include:
- Incentive payments of up to $10,500 to attract RGs and GPs who have advanced clinical skills to practise in rural and remote communities ($74.1m)
- Additional Advanced Specialist Training posts for RGs in recognition of the importance and value of the RG program and its potential to deliver an efficient and effective extended range of healthcare services which meet community need
- Increases training opportunities for junior doctors to experience RG medicine
- 20 new Commonwealth-funded medical training places at the James Cook University ($13.2m), which will ultimately boost the rural health workforce
- More than $300m for health programs that will help close the gap in health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- New funding of $24.7m for the Innovative Models of Care program.
“These budget initiatives pave the way for further consultation with ACRRM and other rural and remote stakeholder organisations, building on their knowledge and vested interest to develop targeted policies to ensure rural and remote communities have equitable access to the high-quality, local-based healthcare services they need and deserve.”
“They are a positive first step towards building strong, resilient and sustainable healthcare services in rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Dr Halliday says.
ENDS
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The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) says last night’s Federal Budget is a step forward for the Albanese Government’s election commitment to improve health outcomes for rural, remote, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday says this Federal Budget invests in rural and remote-specific healthcare solutions and helps to address the shortage of healthcare staff and resources.
“We note the commitment to innovatively revamp Australia's primary healthcare system and strengthen Medicare, and expect that this will include flexible, and fit-for-purpose programs to support primary care in rural and remote communities,” Dr Halliday says.
“The government must also focus on addressing barriers to rural and remote general practice training which is essential to attract and retain a skilled specialist Rural Generalist (RG) workforce.
“ACRRM has long advocated for the need to restore the value proposition for rural general practice and direct funding towards comprehensive primary care that is locally based and designed to meet the needs of people living outside the urban footprint.
“Appropriate funding for general practice and primary care is the single greatest measure which can be taken to reduce the impact on our hospital system, and to improve the health of the nation more generally.
“In particular, the specialist RG model of practice has been shown to be the best model to meet the healthcare needs of rural and remote communities,” Dr Halliday says.
Other initiatives supported by the College include:
- Incentive payments of up to $10,500 to attract RGs and GPs who have advanced clinical skills to practise in rural and remote communities ($74.1m)
- Additional Advanced Specialist Training posts for RGs in recognition of the importance and value of the RG program and its potential to deliver an efficient and effective extended range of healthcare services which meet community need
- Increases training opportunities for junior doctors to experience RG medicine
- 20 new Commonwealth-funded medical training places at the James Cook University ($13.2m), which will ultimately boost the rural health workforce
- More than $300m for health programs that will help close the gap in health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- New funding of $24.7m for the Innovative Models of Care program.
“These budget initiatives pave the way for further consultation with ACRRM and other rural and remote stakeholder organisations, building on their knowledge and vested interest to develop targeted policies to ensure rural and remote communities have equitable access to the high-quality, local-based healthcare services they need and deserve.”
“They are a positive first step towards building strong, resilient and sustainable healthcare services in rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Dr Halliday says.
ENDS