Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the great rural advocate the Minister for Sport and Minister for Rural Health, Senator McKenzie: The Rural Health Stakeholder Roundtable was convened in Canberra last week.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know you people don't want do hear anything about health in the bush, but it would be good to sit quietly. You might learn something.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan, please return to the question.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister update the Senate as to how the government is working to improve local health services in rural communities?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, Senator O'Sullivan, I can. Thank you very much for your question. Like all senators on this side, Senator O'Sullivan understands that rural communities face specific health challenges and deserve localised service delivery to ensure they receive the same level of care as the rest of the country. Rural health is at the core of our government's approach to developing health policy. A dedicated National Rural Health Commissioner, implemented by this government, is integral to achieving this outcome and will also champion rural health reform. We've established the Rural Health Stakeholder Roundtable to bring key organisations together to help inform our policy development and improve health outcomes in rural and regional Australia.

On Friday I chaired the roundtable meeting to facilitate discussions on important issues, including how we can better support more health professionals undertaking their training and careers in the bush. We know many regional communities find it difficult to recruit and retain doctors. While there is a good supply of GPs nationally, there is absolutely a maldistribution of the medical workforce, which unfairly affects rural and regional service delivery. The evidence tells us that when health students complete the majority of their training in a regional setting they are more likely to practise rurally upon graduation. Carolyn Reimann, a student from James Cook University in Cairns, who I met on Friday at the roundtable, hopes to pursue a career as a rural generalist. To further examine the issue, a distribution working group has been established to provide me with the policy advice I need to address the maldistribution.

As someone who is of the regions, and the responsible minister, I'm committed to responding to the needs of local communities and to ensuring we have an appropriate mix of health professionals and services to deliver quality health care to all Australians no matter where they live. Through more than 40 programs specifically designed to target rural areas, the government is increasing the capacity, quality and distribution of our healthcare workforce.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan, a supplementary question.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How well the minister is settling into her new job! How is the appointment of the National Rural Health Commissioner, and his involvement on the roundtable, supporting this outcome?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Minister, I'll assume that Senator O'Sullivan was behind you, so you heard the question better than me.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, again, Senator O'Sullivan. The National Rural Health Commissioner, Professor Paul Worley, attended his first roundtable meeting last week after commencing his appointment in November last year. The commission's priority is to develop a rural generalist pathway, to recognise the complex demands of doctors working in rural communities. GPs in rural towns may have to treat diabetes, support a patient with complex mental health needs or provide an anaesthetic at the local hospital, or they may have to perform surgery or deliver a baby, in conjunction with seeing patients as part of their everyday general practice.

On Friday, I was pleased to announce a landmark agreement between the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine to develop a national framework for this medical speciality, known as the Collingrove Agreement. The commissioner has been working very closely with the two colleges to meet this point. Many doctors in the bush provide the only access to specialist medical care service, and the rural generalist pathway recognises the advanced skillset rural doctors need.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator O'Sullivan, a final supplementary question.

Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, how does the work of the roundtable contribute to rural and regional health reform?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's a very good question. Let me tell you all about it. The Rural Health Stakeholder Roundtable, established by the government, promotes the strategic discussion—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Carr!

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's coming, Senator Carr.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Please continue, Senator McKenzie.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President, for your protection. By bringing together key stakeholders—

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No wonder Malcolm thinks you lot are a joke!

Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting—

Senator Kim Carr interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Cameron! Senator Collins and Senator Carr! There a lot of noise on my left at the moment.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To support the development of rural health policy, 19 peak bodies represent the rural health workforce, including doctors, Indigenous health organisations, nurses and allied health professionals. The roundtable provides a valuable opportunity for the government and stakeholders to collaborate and discuss ways to improve the delivery of services and better target programs. Last Friday's discussion focused on the rural generalist pathway, Indigenous workforce issues and examining health workforce data. Finding solutions to some of the barriers faced by regional communities is our priority.