What We Do

Doing what we do matters

The situation in rural health care is tough 

If you have spent any time in rural and remote medicine, or have lived outside our metro areas, you will appreciate that life is different. While it’s a great life, health care is tough. If your organisation is based in a metropolitan area, you might not know the challenges we face.

Rural communities are small in population and separated by vast distances.  But they are responsible for feeding us and keeping us healthy. They contribute over 67% of the value of Australia exports – nearly $400 billion. 

So, what’s happening in rural and remote locations really matters to us all.

Distance, isolation, and also lack of services are part of rural health. And as a result of this, lives are at risk every day. But by working together, we can help fill the gaps that exist in healthcare for rural and remote communities.

Some alarming statistics

  • The mortality rates for rural and remote people are 1.8 times what they are in the city.

  • People living in rural and remote areas also have higher instances of disease as well as injury.

  • 3 out of 5 rural people do not see a specialist when they need to,. Mostly, because there isn’t one close by.

  • 80% of our health practitioners in our remote communities are travelling over 300 kilometres to receive healthcare.

  • The disease burden due to suicide and self-inflicted injuries in remote areas is 2.2 times that of cities.

Taking action, creating change 

We are perfectly positioned to make a difference, because as rural doctors, we are part of the fabric of rural and remote communities. We celebrate solutions that see people rolling up their sleeves and taking action.

Solutions that make a difference.

Solutions that also keep people healthy and save lives. Importantly, we support communities at the local level, funding their creative ideas for managing their own health issues.

What we do 

Provide medical equipment to rural communities

Funding lifesaving equipment for rural communities 

 

See the impact
Support GP services for rural health practitioners

Keeping our rural health practitioners healthy and in rural towns

 

Read about our program
Deliver emergency relief funding during crisis

Emergency funding for  access to healthcare during natural disaster

 

Apply for a grant
Conduct primary research into rural health needs

Conducting primary research to learn more about rural health needs

 

Read our research
Promote wellness and better health in rural communities

Providing community grants to implement vital health and wellbeing programs

 

Find out more

 

 

 

 

“Alone we can do so little,

 together we can do so much.”

 
– Helen Keller

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