NRHA 10th National Rural Helath Conference 17-20 May

From the Conference Convenor, Owen Allen & NRHA Chairperson, Jenny May

If you are interested in the health and wellbeing of the 32 per cent of Australians who live in rural and remote Australia, Cairns is the place to be from 17-20 May 2009.

There has rarely been a time when there were greater opportunities for input into health systems from consumers, practitioners, researchers and managers.  Many key areas of the Australian health system are being evaluated, and information and evidence from the field is being sought to drive policy and program change.

Some of the forces faced by people in rural and remote communities are irresistible: climate change hangs over us, the availability of water is now a determining feature of country communities, and the ground is shifting on workforce reform.

Despite the great diversity of rural and remote Australia, its health sector is relatively coherent and united in its common goal.  The disparate voices in the sector agree on much of what matters.  This enables the sector to steer reform, to celebrate the innovation and resilience of country communities – and to make clear demands on ourselves as well as on governments, funders and managers.

At the 10th Conference there will be plenty of opportunity for the exchange of views.  There will be a special Community Skills Workshop.  There will be research reports, practical case studies, arts-in-health activities, an exhibition and much interaction between delegates.  And you will be invited to reflect on the successes and failures of the past 20 years in rural and remote health: where did the sector do well, where badly?

In this time of changing environments, service systems and policies, make sure you have your say.

Like so many of you, we believe that rural and remote health is ‘the place to be’, both now and for the future.