Regions need to be natural, desirable homes for health workers

The AMA has called for a renewed push to make regional areas more attractive for healthcare workers so they regard regions as their “natural, desirable” home to meet the needs of the more than nine million people living in regional Australia.

AMA President Professor Steve Robson attended the launch of the National Alliance for Regionalisation at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday.

More than 30 leaders from influential peak bodies from around the country met in Canberra for the launch of the new alliance, which aims to create a fairer, more prosperous and more balanced regional Australia.

The alliance’s 10-year plan aims to advocate policies to get more than 11 million people living in regional Australia by 2032.

CEO of the Regional Australia Institute Liz Ritchie said towns are crying out for doctors.

Professor Robson told the Australian that the standard of healthcare was one measure on which families based their decision on whether to stay in or move to the regions.

“There is increasing complexity of healthcare needs, which is the same in the regions, especially in mental health,” he said.

“And shortages in maternity care in some parts of regional Australia is catastrophic.

“We have to move away from doctors operating on a fly-in, fly-out basis in parts of Australia, or being bonded for a period of time, and instead work to make the regions a natural, desirable home for young healthcare workers.”