RURAL HEALTH POLICY: THE THIRD NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH CONFERENCE

ABSTRACT: The Third National Rural Health Conference was convened at Mt Beauty in February 1995, by the National Rural Health Alliance, to promote the continuing improvement of the health and well-being of people in rural and remote Australia. The agenda reflected the initiatives of the National Rural Health Strategy, developed as the result of earlier National Conferences. The conference aimed to share information and direct it to relevant institutions, to strengthen bonds and communication within the rural health field and to encourage the advocacy role of delegates within their own organisations. By drawing the themes together, the conference program highlighted the principle of equity, the plight of Aboriginal health, the right of the community to self determination and participation, and the needs, entitlements and roles of consumers. The conference further emphasised the need for an integrated or holistic approach to service planning and the need for service delivery to reflect the specific needs of rural communities. Delegates, led by the Federal Minister for Health, identified specific strategies for reinforcing and implementing programs that promote dialogue between community, workforce and government and contribute to a cohesive national and state agenda in rural health. Delegates recognised that the rural health community is now much better organised, but considerable inequities remain and must be addressed urgently.