With new CEO Richard Colbran on board, the NSW Rural Doctors Network has opened a Newcastle office focused on becoming a hub for rural health practitioners and organisations across NSW.
The official opening was performed Federal Assistant Minister for Rural Health, Dr David Gillespie, who said the NSW RDN had been exemplary in advocating for rural health workers and rural communities for over 20 years, with many of their initiatives providing models for collaborative reform.
“NSW RDN has long been a key facilitator with other organisations to fill workforce gaps, and is a real model for a cohesive approach to health services and innovation to expand rural and remote access to healthcare,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Their close partnerships to coordinate solutions to GP, nursing, dental and allied health resourcing issues with Local Health Districts, Aboriginal health services, Primary Health Networks, and other relevant stakeholders means rural communities in NSW are getting better care, when and where they need it.”
Dr Gillespie paid tribute to outgoing CEO Dr Ian Cameron whom he described as “a beacon for rural and remote health, and a tireless advocate for more than 20 years.”
Recent successful initiatives by NSW RDN include continuing work with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, increasing the delivery of eye health services and audiometry services under the Rural Health Outreach Fund program through the Visiting Optometrists Scheme, the recruitment of almost 200 nursing and allied health professionals under the Rural Health Professionals Program, and 58 new dentists starting work across 38 different towns through the Dental Relocation and Infrastructure Scheme.
