ACRRM’s Rural and Remote Community and Consumer Reference Group (CRG) aims to provide diverse community perspectives to the College, with a view to promoting improved health outcomes for all rural and remote Australians including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

Community Reference Group members are diverse in location, age, background and interests. Their unique community perspectives are invaluable in keeping the College informed of community priorities and needs. With over twenty members from all over the country, the group provides a conduit for strengthening community partnerships,  and  a vehicle for community input and advocacy in College operations.

There is ongoing work to strengthen the linkages between the CRG and other relevant areas of College operations. The Group is represented on College Council, by Stan Stavros. Stan attended the recent College Council face-to-face planning weekend in Brisbane, to put forward the position of remote and rural communities in significant strategic discussions around policy, advocacy, and college strategic directions. Stan explains the important of involving community perspectives:

“Community engagement is an essential component in a primary health care and with that in mind I’m appreciative of ACRRMs initiative of a community reference group.  I believe communities can, and should, become fierce advocates for place based solutions – ie planning, design, delivery, rather than the bureaucrats and politicians who live in urban settings.”
 

Community representatives from other College Board, Councils and Committees are also invited to join the Group.  ACRRM Community Board Director Brynnie Goodwill is an active member and explains the value the CRG brings to College operations:

“It is terrific linking with people living rurally across Australia through ACRRM’s Community Reference Group, sharing our stories and experiences, drawn together by a common desire:  to improve health services in rural Australia.”

Here is what other CRG members are saying about their membership:

Testimonials

“I have very much enjoyed my time spent as a CRG member. The vast knowledge bank of people involved and the willingness to share issues and solutions has been so interesting. The passion that people have for their communities and making them a better place for all to live is constantly inspiring.”

“Australians living and working in rural and remote areas should have access to the same minimum standard of healthcare and services as their city counterparts. The ACRRM CRG allows members to give insight into our real-life experiences navigating the rural and remote healthcare system. This will help inform discussions and policies and hopefully improve outcomes for rural and remote Aussies.”

Member Profile - Brynnie Goodwill

I live in Wonnarua / Darkinyung Country, the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, where my partner and I grow food organically and host community events at our property Kawalang www.kawalang.com   My first career decades ago was in international corporate law. Over the past years, I have been helping to grow not-for-profit organisations in the health, social justice and sustainability space. I am passionate about learning from First Nations People, living in harmony with the land and deepening community connection. Other passions of mine include working with plants and food to support overall health and wellbeing, strengthening community resilience and improving health care in rural Australia. I am currently Deputy Chair of ACRRM’s Board of Directors and serve on its Governance Committee.

Member Profile – Stan Stavros
Stan lives in Albury in NSW. He is a Chartered Accountant whose clients are predominantly GPs in rural and remote Australia. He not only does traditional type accounting/tax work for his GP clients, but also helps them and their communities develop viable and sustainable models of medical practice to help keep them practicing in their towns. He travels regularly to rural and remote communities to work through the issues and modelling. He knows that all communities are different, and that one size does not fit all.

Interested in finding out more?
The CRG warmly welcomes new members. CRG meetings are held quarterly by videoconference, with ongoing informal email discussion where members raise issues of interest as well as responding to requests for feedback from the College. The group reports directly to the College Council. Please encourage your community contacts to join using the Expression of Interest form on our website.