Editorial: Making a difference to rural health

Welcome everyone to the latest edition of Partyline, the National Rural Health Alliance’s online quarterly magazine for health in rural and remote Australia.
 
For those that may have missed it (I don’t know how that could be, mind you!) the 15th National Rural Health Conference is being held in Hobart on 24-27 March  - and it is not too late to register. Go to http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/15nrhc/ and book your spot – you will not regret it, I promise.
 
There are interesting articles in this edition of Partyline – on the role of arts in health; climate change and what impact that will have on not only our environment but on our health; children’s health – for country kids; mental health and wellbeing; eye health; heart health; the prevalence and impact of Lyme disease; and so much more. All of these topics are important for rural health – we have a broad range of issues that impact on the health outcomes that people living in rural, regional and remote Australia experience.
 
These and other issues are also included on the program for the Conference in Hobart which provides us with a unique opportunity to identify solutions for addressing the health needs of country people. The Conference also gives the opportunity to prioritise the rural health sector’s ideas and actions for the next two years and to demonstrate in a quite tangible way how we can genuinely be ‘Better together!’

We expect over 1,000 delegates to attend the Conference.
 
The other very important aspect of the Conference is that what we have to say will be heard. Not only do we have the Minister responsible for Rural Health, the Hon Senator Bridget McKenzie; the Shadow Minister for Health, the Hon Catherine King; and Australian Greens leader Senator Richard Di Natale all attending, we also have the opportunity to use the 1,000 plus voices of the delegates from across rural regional and remote Australia to call for the changes we need as we head into an imminent Federal Election.
 
So, be part of this. Come to Hobart. Join us and let’s start to make a real difference to rural health.