“Australia’s first National Rural Health Commissioner will be an independent and high-profile advocate for regional, rural and remote health,” said Dr David Gillespie.
Gillespie said the result would mean better health for regional and rural Australians.
Passage of the Health Insurance Amendment Bill 2017 will help ensure medical and health professionals in rural, regional, and remote areas have access to the tools and support they need.
“The Commissioner will consider the nursing, dental health, Indigenous health, mental health, midwifery and allied health needs in regional, rural, and remote Australia,” said Gillespie.”The Commissioner’s work will be informed by rural health stakeholders, who will be part of the new Distribution Working Group, as well as the Rural Health Stakeholder Roundtable that I meet with regularly.”
A national process for appointing the National Rural Health Commissioner will begin shortly.
See photos from Toowoomba’s annual health fair here.