The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) President Dr Ewen McPhee met with Regional Services Minister Mark Coulton and Education Minister Dan Tehan last week to lead discussion on rural health workforce issues.
Dr McPhee says it is positive to see the Government is strongly committed to improving access to health services, particularly in rural and remote regions.
The Department of Health Forum discussed the implementation of the National Rural Generalist Pathway and options to implement a single employer model for trainee doctors keen to work rurally.
The Forum was followed by a Rural Roundtable with Dr Coulton.
“The Rural Roundtable brought together representatives from Colleges, rural health workforce agencies, and a broad range of health organisations and professions to improve health delivery and distribution in communities outside our urban areas,” Dr McPhee says.
“In his time as a Minister, Mr Coulton has developed a solid understanding of rural generalism and is supporting the full delivery of the Rural Generalist Pathway implementation,” Dr McPhee says.
In a media release issued by Mr Coulton, Dr McPhee says; ““The rural roundtable is a fantastic opportunity for all of the health agencies to come together and develop a common understanding around priorities.
“It is not just about doctors, but nurses and allied health professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers. This government is facilitating an important conversation.”
Also on the agenda was the government’s $550 million Stronger Rural Health Strategy, which aims to deliver an additional 3,000 doctors and 3,000 nurses to service rural Australians
To read Minister Coulton's press release on issues impacting health delivery in rural and remote areas, please click here.