Health care Compact for rural and remote communities

The Coalition Government is committed to responding to the challenge of ensuring Australia has the right mix of health professionals to deliver high quality healthcare to those in need, particularly those in rural and regional areas.

 

It is vital to ensure that doctors, no matter where they live and work, get the support and training they need to provide world class health services.

 

The Minister for Rural Health, Senator Bridget McKenzie and the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, announced a new Compact with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) to help improve access to quality health care services for rural and regional Australians.

 

The Compact forms part of the Coalition’s agenda to ensure Australians have access to high quality and timely health services, no matter where they live.

 

“Ensuring that regional and rural Australians can access high quality health care is a key priority for the Coalition Government,” Minister McKenzie said.

 

“The Compact recognises the pivotal role ACRRM plays in strengthening the Australian health care system and the shared vision to improve access and services in the regions. It acknowledges the role of the College as a peak body that sets the standards for training general practitioners to ensure high quality care by doctors in communities across the nation.”

 

“I am deeply grateful to ACRRM for their vital role in supporting rural medicine and a skilled and sustainable rural medical workforce,” Minister Hunt said.

 

“With the support of ACRRM we will improve the delivery of healthcare options for Australians living in our regions. And we are absolutely focused on creating more opportunities for Australian doctors in our regions.”

 

The Coalition Government and ACRRM understand the unique challenges of providing health care in rural and remote Australia and the importance of an appropriate workforce of primary care health professionals. This is integral to a high performing health system.

 

Working outside our major urban centres means rural doctors need a broad range of skills. This Compact will help build a skilled national medical workforce to meet the needs of people living in rural and remote communities now and into the future.

 

This new Compact with the Coalition and ACRRM will help build a robust and sustainable health workforce well into the future