MORE GPS FOR FAMILIES IN REGIONAL AUSTRALIA UNDER A COALITION GOVERNMENT
A Dutton-Littleproud Coalition Government will invest $100 million towards upgrading regional medical training facilities across Australia and delivering 200 additional regional medical Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), to fast track more health professionals living and working in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said the regional funding injection would be supported by a new comprehensive Rural, Regional, and Remote Health Strategy and developed by the National Rural Health Commissioner in the first six months of a Coalition Government.
“The Coalition supports better rural, regional and remote health care and more GPs for families in our regions,” Mr O’Brien said.
“A future Coalition Government will bring more doctors to the regions. We will build on the former Coalition Government’s strong record in regional health, developing a comprehensive Rural, Regional, and Remote Health Strategy, to ensure Australia has a long-term plan to meet the healthcare challenges in these communities.”
Mr O’Brien added only the Coalition understands the importance of ensuring all Australians have access to the high-quality healthcare they need, no matter where they live.
“The additional funding will kick start works to upgrade teaching facilities, laboratories and student accommodation, backed with 200 medical CSPs guaranteed for the regions to tackle the chronic rural health workforce shortage.
“This announcement takes our medical CSP commitment to 350 places because we are committed to growing the pipeline of GPs.
“The $100 million infrastructure funding will be available to universities and healthcare institutions engaged in medical, nursing and allied health training. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a commitment to training healthcare professionals at their regional facilities or campus.
“This important investment responds to growing calls from stakeholders for a dedicated focus on regional, rural and remote healthcare.”
There is clear evidence that if students study and train in rural, regional and remote Australia, they are more likely to choose to work there, which is critical to addressing the health workforce shortages that only get worse the further you are from a capital city.
“A Coalition Government will put students first in universities by funding more places for the future GP workforce, especially in the regions which need it most.
“These new Commonwealth supported places will be a welcome boost to universities that are delivering high-quality medical training and education.”
The Strategy will be outcomes-focused and built on the principles of ‘Teach and Train, Recruit and Retain’, creating a healthcare system that is inspiring, innovative, and delivers for rural, regional and remote Australians.
This announcement is on top of the Coalition’s $9 billion investment into Medicare – its largest investment ever – to deliver more GPs and increase bulk billing.
Bulk billing rates have fallen nationally, from 88 per cent under the Coalition to 77 per cent under Labor.
The Coalition will also lower the cost of medicines to $25, as crucial support during Labor’s cost-of-living crisis and deliver a world-leading approach to mental health, including an additional $400 million for youth mental health services and doubling the better access mental health sessions.
