Friends of the Alliance has elected a new Advisory Committee to lead it through the next two years. The new Committee will represent all States and Territories in Australia and provide valuable grassroots input and support to the work of the National Rural Health Alliance. Friends of the Alliance is united by a passion for... read more
Media Releases
Release Date: 27 June 2019
Australia’s peak body for rural, regional and remote health, the National Rural Health Alliance, has appointed rural clinician Dr Gabrielle O’Kane as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Dr O’Kane, a dietitian, comes to the job with 35-plus years working in outback private and public practice in NSW and is also an academic and researcher.
An Adjunct Associate Professor at the... read more
Release Date: 27 May 2019
Australia’s peak body for rural, regional and remote health says boosting access to health services via telehealth and increased broadband connectivity, plus boosting the allied health workforce in those areas are key priorities for Australia’s re-appointed Health Minister Greg Hunt.
The National Rural Health Alliance welcomed Mr Hunt’s re-appointment in the portfolio saying he was well... read more
Release Date: 16 May 2019
With just four days left to vote in the Federal election, Australia’s peak body for rural, regional and remote health says there is no clear policy winner when it comes to promises for improving the health of people living outside capital cities.
“We’ve had bits and pieces announced but none of the major parties have summarized clearly and comprehensively how they plan to tackle the... read more
Release Date: 09 May 2019
A chorus of concern over the major parties’ failure to focus on rural health issues in the election campaign is growing, the National Rural Health Alliance says.
The peak body for rural, regional and remote health says the 7 million people living in rural Australia have been unable to discern what the big health policy announcements mean for them.
“Nor has there been a specific... read more
Release Date: 08 May 2019
A report out today showing higher levels of risky drinking in country areas compared with cities illustrates why political parties claiming to care for rural Australia must spell out what they are offering on rural health this election, the National Rural Health Alliance says.
NRHA CEO Mark Diamond said the 7 million people living in rural, regional and remote Australia have heard... read more
Release Date: 04 May 2019
Australia’s peak body for rural health is dismayed at the lack of focus on rural health issues in the election debate on health at the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday.
“It’s fair to say that the health needs of over 7 million people were totally ignored in this debate,” National Rural Health Alliance CEO Mark Diamond said.
The Alliance represents 37 health peak member... read more
Release Date: 01 May 2019
Australia’s peak body for rural health has urged aspiring members of the nation’s next Federal Government to abandon the assumption that market economics can be the main lever driving the delivery of health services in rural areas.
“We know that when it comes to rural health, market failure exists,” National Rural Health Alliance Chair Tanya Lehmann said.
“We have to come out of... read more
Release Date: 30 April 2019
The National Rural Health Alliance – Australia’s umbrella rural health group – has welcomed the major parties’ focus on rural, regional and remote connectivity for health’s sake, ahead of the Federal election.
Labor has promised $245 million to eradicate mobile black spots, improve digital literacy and fund local projects to improve connectivity in regional communities. The Coalition... read more
Release Date: 30 April 2019
Rural health needs greater focus to help undecided voters get clear about their choices ahead of the Federal Election on May 18, the National Rural Health Alliance says.
“Big issues like water and whether new coal mines should be opened can overwhelm the equally significant health service needs of the 7 million people who live outside Australia’s big cities, but in fact these are all... read more