Getting young doctors and medical professionals into rural regions is the focus behind the National Rural Generalist Pathway. The Australian Government’s $27 million investment to establish Rural Coordination Units aims to support junior doctors navigating the training pipeline.
Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton, said Rural Coordination Units, located within each State and Territory, will work closely with the health sector to develop strong links between hospital and primary care networks for the Rural Generalist Pathway.
The establishment of the Pathway was a core focus of the inaugural National Rural Health Commissioner, Paul Worley, who made a series of recommendations to support the rollout of the Pathway. The Coalition Government backed the rollout of the Pathway by committing $62.2 million in the 2019-20 Budget.
“The Australian Government has laid the foundations of the Pathway to ensure rural generalists are trained, recognised, and resourced to meet the critical health needs of rural and remote communities,” Minister Coulton said.
The development of the coordination units, an essential component of the Pathway, was a result of consultations with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Rural Doctors Association of Australia, General Practice Registrars Australia, General Practice Supervisors Australia and the National Rural Health Commissioner.
