22/08/2025
Even though we live in arguably the best place on Earth - we are acutely aware of the challenges we face here in Tassie especially in the North and North West to access the right care and support for our Parkinson’s community. We are committed to the principle that quality care must be universal no matter where you live. Thanks for your work and advocacy National Rural Health Alliance
The Interim Report of the Quality of Care Review highlights both opportunities and challenges for ensuring Australians receive safe, equitable, and culturally appropriate care.
From a rural, regional and remote health perspective, we welcome the report’s recognition that:
-Access and equity gaps remain significant – geographic isolation, cost, and service shortages often leave rural Australians with limited options.
-Cultural safety and trust are essential – particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, where community-led, place-based models deliver better health outcomes.
-Workforce challenges drive inequity – the availability and distribution of health professionals remains one of the biggest barriers to quality care outside metropolitan areas.
-Housing, transport, and digital connectivity all shape the ability of rural people to access care, and need to be considered as part of broader health system reforms.
As the peak body for rural and remote health, the Alliance strongly supports reforms that:
✔️ Embed lived experience and local voices in decision-making.
✔️ Invest in innovative models of care suited to smaller and more dispersed populations.
✔️ Ensure sustained workforce strategies, including incentives, training pathways, and community supports.
✔️ Uphold the principle that quality care must be universal—no matter where you live.
We look forward to the next phase of this review and helping to ensure that rural Australians are not left behind in the national vision for quality health care.
https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/quality-care/interim
