Rural health professional wellbeing and self-care through coordinated support and networks should be encouraged. Especially in times of natural disaster: www.ruralhealthtogether.info is one example
Other
To support and encourage sector-wide attention and integration of the National Rural Health Conference’s key recommendations that mechanisms to -
A) profile / deposit / share successes and challenges against the conference recommendations be activated and
B) that future Conference’s... more
All governments at all levels should implement a rural proofing policy to ensure that rural communities are not unfairly disadvantaged by any new policy development or its implementation - preconference workshop recommendation on determinants of health
Rural health multidisciplinary training programs could be expanded to include additional strategies to support recent graduates during their transition to rural practice, and thereby promote the likelihood they will want to continue a rural career path
That the Federal and State governments responds to the crisis in Indigenous suicide, which is particularly severe in rural and remote areas , by partnering with Aboriginal leaders and communities to respond to the factors underlying the tragically high rates of suicides and through resourcing... more
Oral disease in young children, particularly early childhood dental decay is largely preventable and if the disease is detected early its management is simple. Yet, Aboriginal children suffer from dental disease at twice the rate of non-Aboriginal children and are more likely to be admitted for... more
Telehealth and connectivity are important enablers for patients to access care and also for rural health providers to access education BUT care needs to be taken not to make it too easy for bean counters to reduce services and replace actual human workers with Telehealth options. There needs to... more
Government needs to urgently fund the development of health management and leadership training programs for rural and remote managers and emerging leaders. The Australasian College of Health Service Management accredited competency standards should be used to guide the development.
We need governments to legislate controls that restrict the marketing and availability of alcohol and unhealthy foods and to increase the price through fiscal policies like a minimum unit price on alcohol and a health levy/tax on surgery drinks (increase price-taxation,decrease availability -... more
Since the roll out of the NDIS, a crisis has developed in the availability and delivery of disability services in regional and remote Australia. This is due to the thin markets in smaller communities that make delivery of fee for service clinical operations nonviable. In summary, the current... more
Pollinators around the world are in decline. Without them our crops fail and food becomes scarce. Do not forget that biodiversity, drought and pesticides contribute to wellbeing. If there are missing bits in natural systems it is just like missing services in health systems and correlates with... more
Working with mothers before leaving the justice system via parenting courses and pre-release work experience, and providing help with housing and mentoring - keeps them from re-offending and keeps there kids reunited with their mum and avoids necessity of OOHC.