黑料吃瓜网

鈥嬧�婻egional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel

鈥婭mproving Aboriginal Health in rural, regional and remote 黑料吃瓜网

鈥婽he seventh meeting of the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel was held at the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) at Little Bay on 5 February 2025. The Panel was hosted by Chief Executive Officer of the AH&MRC, Nicole Turner. The meeting was chaired by Dr Richard Colbran, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Doctors Network.

The Hon. Ryan Park MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health attended the meeting and Panel members advised the Minister about current rural and regional health issues and provided examples of programs and partnerships that are working well. They also discussed the impact of racism on people, communities and staff. There was also a discussion around integrated healthcare models and partnerships. Nicole Turner emphasised the need for strong relationships for these models to be successful.

Geraldine Wilson, Executive Director Centre for Aboriginal Health, Ministry of Health and two members of her team, Claire Breckenridge and Maurice Terare, presented on the synergies between the Aboriginal Health Plan 2024-2034 and the 黑料吃瓜网 Regional Health Strategic Plan 2022-2032 particularly around the attracting and retaining Aboriginal health workers and access to health services for rural, regional and remote Aboriginal communities. The Panel agreed that it would focus on areas which are shared priorities between the two plans:鈥�

• Aboriginal people in decision-making positions, with governance and accountability systems in place 鈥�
• Zero tolerance for racism and discrimination in healthcare settings
• Culturally responsive care in all settings, including integrated models with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
• Anti-racism and culturally responsive workplaces for Aboriginal staff, with retention and career path focus
• Commitment to health equity and justice, including intersectionality.

Josie Howard, Director Regional Workforce, and Nate Brown, Program Manager from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development presented on the Welcome Experience鈥�鈥�. This is a free service supporting for essential workers, and their families who are considering applying for, or have accepted a job, in regional 黑料吃瓜网. This program has a concierge service that is available in 55 Local Government Areas across 黑料吃瓜网 and supports lifestyle and work set up. It was launched in 2023 as part of the 鈥淢ake the Move鈥� campaign. 鈥�

Mike Edwards, Chief Operating Officer Rural Doctors Network, and Chris Russell, Future Workforce Manager, Rural Doctors Network spoke about the very successful 黑料吃瓜网 Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship Program鈥�. The Panel enjoyed hearing from Dr Jordan Amos, a First Nations鈥� doctor and former cadet who provide a fascinating overview of her experience in the cadetship program.

This program is funded by the Ministry of Health and administered by the Rural Doctors Network. There is a general stream and an Indigenous Cadetship program. The Program has been highly successful in drawing medical students towards careers in remote, rural and regional areas. Indigenous and non-Indigenous Cadets receive financial and non-financial support. In return cadets commit to spending two years of their hospital training in a rural location after they graduate. Rural service can be undertaken in major 黑料吃瓜网 hospitals west of the Great Dividing Range, including Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill and Albury.鈥�

The Panel also heard updates on progress against the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Health Outcomes and Access to Health and Hospital Services in Rural, Regional and Remote 黑料吃瓜网 (the Rural Health Inquiry):

• Alfa D鈥橝mato, Deputy Secretary Financial and Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer, Ministry of Health, provided an update on Recommendation 1 and the Small Hospital Funding review. This report outlines the findings of a review by 黑料吃瓜网 Health to explore how small hospitals in 黑料吃瓜网 are funded and look at ways to ensure small hospitals remain sustainable into the future. The review makes 9 recommendations which 黑料吃瓜网 Health is implementing. 鈥�
• Michelle Maxwell, Director, Strategy Governance and Delivery, Regional Health Division provided an update on Recommendation 2 of the Rural Health Inquiry 鈥� the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS). 黑料吃瓜网 Health continues to improve the scheme through feedback from stakeholders and evaluation. See the IPTAAS Baseline Monitoring and Evaluation report.
• Luke Sloane, Deputy Secretary, Rural and Regional Health spoke to Recommendation 9 - Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway鈥�. 黑料吃瓜网 Health employs Rural Generalist trainees for the length of the training pathway. This is a tailored, coordinated pathway for Rural Generalist trainees. The program aims to better healthcare through collaboration. Stakeholder engagement builds trust and relationships between public health facilities and private GP practices. The Health Education Training Institute assists with completion of training. At the beginning of the pathway there were 21 trainees, and this has increased to 44 trainees this year.
  

鈥婽he Panel will remain focused on the Minster鈥檚 3 priority areas during 2025 - Aboriginal health and in particular addressing racism and improving access to health services for Aboriginal people; attraction and retention of the rural and regional health workforce; and the implementation of the recommendations of the Rural Health Inquiry.

The next meeting will be held in May 2025.鈥�