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| Research from the Heart - Register now for 10RRHSS |
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8–9 October 2025 · Alice Springs Convention Centre Our renowned 10th Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium lands in Alice Springs on Arrernte Country this October. Over two inspiring days we’ll dissect the latest evidence in rural, remote and First Nations health, disability, aged care and workforce training. Academics, clinicians, policymakers, students, community leaders and not-for-profits are all invited to connect, collaborate and shape and learn from the latest research from the centre of Australia. |
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| What will it take to fix rural medical workforce shortages? |
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Insight+ article by NRHA CE Susi Tegen Latest data from the 2025 Medical Schools Outcomes Database (MSOD) National Report confirms what country towns already know: specialist doctors are scarce. In her latest Insight+ piece, NRHA CE Susi Tegen argues that extended rural placements, place-based training and scholarship pathways are the fastest route to a sustainable workforce. Her call to action: fund rural training infrastructure, embed rural practice standards in every specialty and reward colleges that move first. |
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| Call for stories — Partyline 92: Celebrating our rural health workforce |
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Our September issue of Partyline will spotlight the mental health, professional development and support systems that keep rural health professionals thriving. We’re chasing 600 word, plain language stories - think innovative programs, community led solutions or personal reflections from on the ground. Contributions from students, clinicians, consumers and advocates are all welcome. Submissions close 12 August 2025 |
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| NAIDOC Research Collection - Free access all July |
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To celebrate NAIDOC Week just gone, Wiley has opened a curated collection of journal articles by First Nations researchers - including seminal papers from our Australian Journal of Rural Health. Read articles on cultural safety, community controlled care and land based healing. Free until 31 July - perfect for CPD or curriculum refreshes. |
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| Grants up to $3,000 to boost bush connectivity |
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Reliable connectivity underpins health, education and small business - yet many rural residents still struggle. Regional Tech Hub Connect Grants offer up to $3,000 for workshops, local guides or volunteer upskilling on digital options. Applications close 12 pm AEST, 8 August 2025. |
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| Lung cancer screening rolls out nationwide — what it means for the bush |
| | Lung cancer remains Australia’s biggest cancer killer, and people outside the cities are 20–30 % more likely to die from it. The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program offers free, low dose CT scans every two years to highrisk adults aged 50–70.
Modelling shows early stage detection could jump from 16 % to 60 % - a lifesaving shift for rural Australia. |
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| Tim Fischer Fellowship – $50 000 fuel for bold rural ideas |
| | Have you got an idea that could transform life in the bush—but need the backing to make it real? The inaugural Tim Fischer Fellowship (TFF) is offering up to $50 000 in funding, tailored mentorship and national networking to one changemaker ready to deliver lasting impact for rural and regional Australia. Established by the Country Education Foundation (CEF) in honour of its first patron, The Hon. Tim Fischer AC, the Fellowship embodies his trademark honesty, integrity and service to the regions. It’s open to anyone aged 18 +—from emerging leaders and researchers to tradespeople and social-enterprise founders—who can show a clear, practical plan to strengthen rural communities. Alongside the cash grant, the successful Fellow will tap into CEF’s three-decade network of educators, industry partners and community champions, ensuring bright ideas translate to on-the-ground results. Think pilot programs, field trials, study tours or seed funding for a startup that tackles regional challenges head-on. Inspired? Apply before midnight Sunday 17 August and turn your vision for a stronger, smarter, more resilient bush into reality. |
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| Regional Jobs & Skills Roadmap - have your say |
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Jobs and Skills Australia has released its first Roadmap for Regional Australia, a 10-year blueprint that tracks labour shortages from aged-care nursing to renewable-energy construction crews. Health features on nearly every page: the document warns that chronic GP, nursing and allied-health gaps are already constraining local economies and risking community viability. The draft singles out familiar pressure points - limited clinical‐placement capacity, high relocation costs, patchy childcare and broadband - as well as emerging issues such as the need for digital-health upskilling and culturally safe workplaces. It floats options ranging from “grow-your-own” school-to-university pipelines to portable, place-based incentives that follow a clinician across specialties. Consultation is open until 2 October 2025. Rural practitioners, councils, health services and training providers are urged to spell out what really works (and what doesn’t) on the ground. |
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| National Diabetes Week - prevention in focus |
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This National Diabetes Week (13–19 July), we’re focusing on prevention—because in rural and remote communities, it’s more important than ever. People in Remote and Very Remote areas are 1.3 × more likely to live with Diabetes, face hospitalisation rates double those in major cities and experience death rates four times higher. Amputations - often preventable - continue to climb. To sharpen advocacy and program design, in partnership with Diabetes Australia we’ve refreshed our Diabetes in Rural Australia fact sheet with 2025 data. Inside you’ll find prevalence by remoteness, amputation and hospitalisation trends, risk-factor hot spots, and case studies of mobile podiatry clinics, tele-endocrinology and peer-led lifestyle programs that work in the bush. |
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| New bereavement resources from Red Nose |
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Supporting families after pregnancy or infant loss can be tough in small communities. The Healing Through Community project has released culturally safe tools - short training videos, checklists and conversation guides - codesigned with bereaved parents and First Nations health workers. There is a video designed for rural and remote families. All materials are free and ideal for inservice training or CPD hours. |
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| Our Medicine - streaming now on SBS On Demand |
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Need an uplifting CPD session or community movie night? Our Medicine is a compelling three-part SBS series celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers who are re-shaping care on Country. Free to stream, the series is packed with lessons on cultural safety, self-determination and grassroots innovation - perfect for those passionate about rural, remote and First Nations’ health. |
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| The National Rural Health Alliance produces evidence-based policy, develops innovative solutions and advocates for rural health equity. Support the Alliance’s advocacy efforts on behalf of rural and remote communities. |
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We currently have a project for Rural Innovation Hub, which aims to synthesise, catalogue and map research, innovation and what is learnt, to share, adapt and adopt around rural Australia. If you are interested in donating to this very important project, please contact us on [email protected]
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| Do you have news and updates on rural health for our readers? |
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| News is regularly updated on the Alliance website.
You are receiving this email because you opted to receive the National Rural Health Alliance's communications. |
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| Copyright © 2025 National Rural Health Alliance, All rights reserved.
The Alliance receives core funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
National Rural Health Alliance
PO Box 475
Curtin, ACT 2605
Australia |
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