The Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner is to be maintained and extended under plans announced by the Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton.
Mr Coulton said the Office would continue to be an independent advocate for rural communities and the rural health workforce and take a broader approach to rural health, help deliver key reforms and target rural health priorities to support practical change for communities.
He said it was vital the Office continued as an ongoing feature to improve health outcomes for rural Australians.
“We are extending the Office of the Rural Health Commissioner so it may build on the work of inaugural Commissioner, Professor Paul Worley, and maintain the confidence of vulnerable rural communities facing doctor shortages and higher burden of disease,” Mr Coulton said.
“I’ve also expanded the remit of the Office to include the appointment of Deputy Commissioners who will play a critical role supporting the National Rural Health Commissioner and provide expertise across a range of vital rural health disciplines including Indigenous health, nursing and allied health.”
He said the Office would also support the rural response to COVID-19 by advising on the impact COVID was having on the health workforce in regional, rural, and remote communities.
Mr Coulton said Professor Paul Worley, whose term was set to end this month, had undertaken the role since November 2017 when the Office was established.
“Professor Worley’s leadership and engagement with the health sector and local communities across rural Australia has been integral to developing a path forward for major rural health reforms,” the Minister said.
He said the new Office would have the capacity to undertake targeted projects to improve rural health access and sustainable models of care.
