As Australia swears in a new Prime Minister and a new cabinet after a leadership spill, Country Women’s Association (CWA) of NSW announces its focus for this year’s CWA Awareness Week.
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As the new Scott Morrison ministry is announced lacking a Rural Health minister, CWA prepares to highlight the increasing disparity between the city and the bush when it comes to health care access and affordability.
“The ongoing erosion of health care services in rural and regional areas is a serious issue, but for too long concerns have been ignored, forcing many communities to the brink of a health care crisis,” CWA of NSW president Annette Turner said.
“Seven million Australians live outside our major cities, but when it comes to allocating health funding, this level of representation doesn’t seem to count for much.
“People in country Australia want to know government at all levels is serious about allocating the expertise and resources required to come up with some genuine solutions to the health care challenges country areas face,” Annette Turner said.
The CWA Awareness Week campaign calls for action on the following key areas:
- shortage of general practitioners (GPs) in rural and regional areas;
- difficulty recruiting specialists, specialist nurses and allied health care professionals;
- poor access to dental care;
- shortage of drug and alcohol support and rehabilitation services;
- shortage of mental health services;
- lack of support (psychological) for those with chronic or terminal illness in rural areas and their families/carers;
- downgrading of local hospitals, including inconsistencies in the approach to blood products at many smaller NSW hospitals.
Annette said lobbying for improved health care services across country NSW had always been a major focus for the CWA of NSW and it was a fight they were willing to continue for as long as it takes.
“We know from the National Rural Health Alliance that people in rural, regional and remote Australia access medical services at half the rate; medical specialists at a third of the rate; and mental health and allied health professionals at a quarter the rate of those in metropolitan Australia,” Annette said.
“This all comes down to availability, and ultimately it means poorer health outcomes for country Australians.”
Richard Colbran, chief executive officer of the NSW Rural Doctors Network, appreciates the healthcare challenges facing rural and regional communities.
“Everyone in NSW, no matter where they live, deserves access to quality healthcare,” he said. “Part of our role at RDN is to show doctors working in cities, those relocating from overseas, and the next generation coming through medical schools, that working and living in rural and regional NSW is a rewarding career choice.
“We know that financial support, education and training, and succession planning are key to health professionals remaining in country areas. We also work with organisations like the CWA to provide the social support that helps create a rich and rewarding bush lifestyle,” Richard said.
Federal member for Lyne, David Gillespie had previously held the roles of Assistant Minister for Health and Assistant Minister for Rural Health under the Turnbull Government.
As he announced on August 27 that he was not required in the new Morrison ministry, he reflected on his time working on the health portfolio.
“I was able to put together a number of important initiatives in the Health Workforce space, that will have long lasting benefits to health delivery in regional Australia in the years ahead.”
CWA of NSW Awareness Week runs from September 1 – 8.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
