Project Officer: Jeff Wearne PO Box 280 DEAKIN WEST  ACT  2600

Ph: (02) 6285 4660 Fax:  (02)  6285 4670 hcrra@ruralhealth.org.au

BACKGROUND

HCRRA is a not for profit organisation that works to improve rural health outcomes by involving consumers in the planning, implementation, management and evaluation of health services throughout non-metropolitan Australia.  Members of HCRRA are given the opportunity to represent the views of people who live in rural and remote Australia in the planning and implementation of a broad range of health issues that directly affect them.  

HCRRA receives funding from the Rural Health Support, Education and training Program in the Department of Health and Ageing.  

OBJECTIVES OF HCRRA

• to promote and support the inclusion of rural and remote consumer representatives on government and non-government committees;
• access to resources which assist consumers to inform and develop their representative skills;
• access to a profile for consumers in rural and remote areas;
• to lobby government on behalf of rural and remote consumers to encourage consumer participation;
• to facilitate rural consumers' communication and involvement in health and community services in their areas;
• to establish a focal point for the dissemination to consumers of information about rural health policies and programs, including from the National Rural Health Alliance;
• to provide a forum in which real experiences and common consumer issues for action can be discussed;
• to work to improve the availability and accessibility of appropriate services in non-metropolitan areas; 
• to liaise on behalf of rural families with the managers of health and community services based in metropolitan or provincial cities to facilitate access to those services;
• consumers have the right to vote and hold office; and 
• to influence change in aspects of the delivery of health services in rural and remote Australia.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

• add your support to strengthen the consumer voice, not just in rural and remote areas but for consumers generally.  Financial membership of HCRRA is evidence of a united and committed consumer movement;
• a Newsletter for members which is distributed four times a year.  the newsletter gives members and health organisations information on consumer involvement in Commonwealth and State Government programs as well as non-government programs.  the newsletter also gives details of consumer representative opportunities for members to actively represent the views of consumers;
• access to a national database on rural and remote health consumers and health organisations. This information can be accessed by various organisations wishing to involve consumers in health programs;
• access to a network of rural consumers, some of whom have experience as consumer representatives.
• access to a profile for health consumers in rural and remote areas;
• consumers have the right to vote and hold office; and
• opportunity to discuss issues affecting rural and remote consumers and be influencing change.

MEMBERSHIP FORM

Click here for a membership form
 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS  

POLICIES

Access to Transport to Health Services

Accountability of Expenditure of Funds

Aged Care

Committee Representation Responsibilities

Communication

Consumer Representation

Dental Health

Equality of Health Status

Equality of Representation by Health Consumers of Rural and Remote Australia

Men's Health

Mental Health in Rural Areas

Overseas Trained Doctors

 

 Send us an email at:  hcrra@ruralhealth.org.au