Professor Lisa Bourke was delighted with the budget attention on rural health and developing its workforce.
“In particular, we are pleased to see increased commitment to nursing and allied health, a new University Department of Rural Health and focus on the needs of remote Australians,” she said.
“As workforce shortages in allied health are most dire, it is fantastic to see investment in workforce development in these areas.”
The Rural Doctors Association of Australia said the budget addressed the maldistribution of medical workforce by getting more doctors to the bush through a number of measures.
University-based health training in the regions will receive a $50.3 million boost, including a new University Department of Rural Health, projects to enhance aged care training in nursing and allied health and a feasibility study to increase dental training in the regions.
A further $3.3 million is allocated for new innovative primary care employment models supporting local solutions to rural medical workforce challenges, also allowing general practitioner training pathways to be incorporated into on-the-ground primary care.
And $125 million will go towards clinical trials in the regions supporting research initiatives, which the association says will attract more doctors to rural areas and provide more opportunities for locals to get involved in these trials.
A new facility in Shepparton for Melbourne University medical students will also be built by the end of 2021, allowing medical students to do their entire medical degrees in the region for the first time.
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