{"id":7797,"date":"2020-08-21T02:20:57","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T02:20:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=7797"},"modified":"2020-08-21T02:20:57","modified_gmt":"2020-08-21T02:20:57","slug":"rural-training-delivering-for-the-bush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/08\/21\/rural-training-delivering-for-the-bush\/","title":{"rendered":"Rural training delivering for the bush"},"content":{"rendered":"

An independent review of one of Australia\u2019s key rural training programs shows it is providing significant opportunities and a rewarding experience for health students in rural communities.
\nThe evaluation of the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) showed the program has successfully supported rural clinical training experiences for students across a range of health disciplines for the past 20 years.
\nFederal Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton said the RHMT program plays a key role in supporting health students to train, work and stay in rural and remote locations.
\n\u201cWe know greater exposure to rural training opportunities leads to more doctors and health professionals choosing rural careers and the RHMT program is a critical to achieving this,\u201d Minister Coulton said.
\n\u201cThe evaluation found the program is of significant educational value, provides students with rewarding experiences in rural communities and is an important contributor to addressing rural health workforce shortages across Australia.
\n\u201cThe review also demonstrates the capacity of universities to provide students with high quality clinical rural training opportunities.
\n\u201cWhether you are training to become a doctor, nurse, dentist, physiotherapist or psychologist, we want our future front line of health professionals to feel well supported and embrace careers in rural healthcare.
\n\u201cRegional and rural communities also benefit from the investment the Commonwealth makes in this rural training program including from greater access to health services and facilities, rural health research and the multiple benefits that a university presence delivers for local jobs.\u201d
\nMinister Coulton said the review also shows the program supports the social and economic strength of rural communities. For every dollar spent under the program, another dollar is generated in the local economy.
\n\u201cThis evaluation reaffirms the value of the RHMT program to increase the number of health professionals working in the bush. It is important that Australian Government investment is well-targeted and future-proofed,\u201d Minister Coulton said.
\n\u201cThe Federal Government is committed to bridging the city-country divide in health services; and this program is a demonstration of that commitment to support the training of health and medical students in rural, remote and regional Australia as an initial step towards a rural health career.
\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Commissioner Associate Professor Ruth Stewart will now assist the Government to consult with stakeholders on the evaluation\u2019s recommendations and provide input into how the program can be further enhanced.
\n\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to hearing from the sector about how we can further strengthen and develop rural training opportunities to keep building this important program for the future.\u201d
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