NationalNRHA Rural Health Alliance Annual Report 2001-2002 PRINT THIS DOCUMENT CATALOGUE SEARCH HELP HOME annual report laid out 11.12.02 04.10 PM Page a Yearbook and Annual Report 2001–2002 1992–2002 Ten years’ involvement with rural and remote health annual report laid out 11.12.02 04.10 PM Page 1 Yearbook and Annual Report 2001–2002 The Vision of the National Rural Health Alliance is good health and well-being in rural and remote Australia National Rural Health Alliance Yearbook and Annual Report 2001–2002 1 annual report laid out 11.12.02 04.10 PM Page 2 SNAPSHOT Some of the rural and remote health narrative from the past 10 years… CONTENTS Part I The Year’s Activity 4 Summits on Rural and Remote Nursing, and Allied Health 11 PO Box 280 Deakin West ACT 2600 Chairperson’s Report 4 Vulnerability of Rural Services and Infrastructure 11 Phone 02 6285 4660 Executive Director’s Report 5 Collaborative work with other national bodies 11 Fax 02 6285 4670 Report against Healthy Horizons 7 Some key issues and agencies 13 Whither Rural Health? Reviewing a Decade of Progress 9 Email [email protected] Office of Rural Health 13 Election 2001 9 General Practice 13 Website www.ruralhealth.org.au 30% Fair Share for Rural Health 9 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Rural Health Study 13 Aged Care 10 Non-government sector 14 Arts-in-Health 10 Reporting on Recommendations from the National Rural Health Alliance Yearbook Child Health 10 6th National Rural Health Conference 14 and Annual Report 2001–2002 Flexible Education for Health Care Professionals 10 The 5th Wonca World Conference on Rural Health 15 ISSN 1441-8002 Indigenous Health 10 Tribute to Puggy Hunter 16 IT Capacity, Hardware and Training 10 The Rural and Remote Nursing Workforce 16 ISBN 0 9577630 8 5 Men’s Health 11 Chronology 16 Mental Health 11 NRHA Submission to the National Review of Nursing Education 17 National Competition Policy 11 Background to the National Review 18 Editorial: NRHA Needs-Based Funding 11 ‘Action on Nursing in Rural and Remote Areas – 2002–03’ 19 Design: Spectrum Graphics www.sg.com.au Oral and Dental Health 11 Federal Budget 2002 20 Cover Photograph: Stewart Roper Resources for Nursing, Allied Health, Dentistry and Pharmacy 11 Rural Health Investments Protected 20 Photographs: Melissa McCord, Irene Lorbergs and NRHA staff Rural Development 11 NRHA’s Budget Commentary 20 National Rural Health Alliance Yearbook and Annual Report 2001–2002 annual report laid out 11.12.02 04.10 PM Page 3 Australia’s first Intergenerational Report 21 Review of the National Health Information NRHA Publications 35 Conferences 22 Management Advisory Council 29 Members of Council 36 Planning for the 7th Conference 22 New South Wales Regional Health Service Advisory Committee 30 6th NURHC – take one 23 NGO Chronic Disease Alliance 30 Part II Financial Statement and Directors’ Report 39 Rural and Remote Allied Health Professionals Conference 23 Consumer Participation in Accreditation 30 Directors 40 The Pre-Wonca Students’ Conference 23 Changing Places: An Exploration Of Factors Influencing AGM Attendance 42 Scholarships 24 The Move Of Older People From Retirement Villages Indemnification of Officers 42 National administration of the John Flynn Scholarship Scheme 24 To Residential Aged Care 30 Principal Activities 43 National administration of the Rural Australia CommunityLIFE 31 Results of Operations 43 Medical Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme 25 Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) 31 Dividends 43 Australian Journal of Rural Health 26 Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) 31 Review of Operations 43 Journal Manager’s Report 26 Palliative Care in Rural and Remote Communities 32 Significant change in the state of affairs of the NRHA 43 The AJRH and policy articles 27 The Future of Regional Australia 32 Significant post-balance date events 43 Professor John Marley appointed Editor of the Meetings with the Rural Health Sub-Committee of AHMAC 33 Directors' Benefits 43 Australian Journal of Rural Health 28 Member Bodies of the Alliance 33 Financial Statements 44 Partyline 28 Also at the NRHA’s address 33 Letter from Gorrell & Co 44 friends of the Alliance 29 NRHA Staff 34 Presenting the rural voice 29 Full-time 34 Appendix Tele and web counselling 29 Part-time 35 List of acronyms related to rural and remote health 53 Review of Pathology Laboratory Accreditation Arrangements 29 Consultants to the NRHA in 2001–2002 35 National Rural Health Alliance Yearbook and Annual Report 2001–2002 3 annual report laid out 11.12.02 04.10 PM Page 4 THE YEAR’S ACTIVITY SNAPSHOT and remote nursing workforce. Thanks to our Consultants for Chairperson’s Report helping to lead this activity. The Federal Election Representation The election seems a long time ago but certainly took up a lot We had an increasing number of requests for the Alliance to of energy, with many requests for press comments and inter- attend meetings and provide a rural and remote opinion to views. The Government was re-elected and the health sector inquiries and research. This made demands on our time but is welcomed a new Minister, with different passions and some part of the reason why we exist and so is taken very seriously. new priorities. It is hard to describe to those a little distant from ‘the Canberra scene’ how frenetic activities are at the time and Rural Health how vital it all seems. It is important for the voice of rural peo- Early in the year we had an excellent meeting with Richard ple to be heard during elections and it certainly soaks up a lot Eccles as the new Head of the Office of Rural Health in the of time for the Chairperson and Executive Director. Department of Health and Ageing. Richard pointed out very appropriately that previous decisions by government led to a Governance continuing increase in Federal budget for rural communities. … a false assumption which is important because “ We continue to look at governance issues and at CouncilFest in Certainly I have seen the active roll-out of the Regional Health it is widespread, – that a health professional is 2001 we had an excellent educational session looking at the Services, which is bringing many allied health personnel to rural communities. prepared and competent for rural practice on the day requirements of directors. With a Council – effectively a Board – of 23 we have created an Executive and this has worked well NRHA Budget of graduation. We all know that a nurse on over the last year. Good corporate governance will push us Our first triennial funding period ended on 30 June 2002. Well graduation day is no more capable of unsupervised towards continuing to have a high functioning Executive. This has enabled us to drop to two-monthly our full Council meet- before that we started the process of talking with officers in the bush nursing than of running an operating theatre, ings, but there are obviously obligations on Executive members Office of Rural Health. Continued security of funding is vital to be both active and to disseminate information widely. to adequate policy development and to the progress of rural and that a medico on graduation day is no more a health and ideas. Our non-partisan approach and our ability to country doctor than a vascular surgeon.” On governance matters we had the assistance of some key peo- work with all relevant groups will remain fundamental in this. ple from Council including Shelagh Lowe, Nola Maxfield, It became clear that the Alliance is valued for its contribution Dr Alan Wallace, speaking at the 1st National Rural Health Mark Dunn, Jane Greacen and Mark Cormack, as well as the to advancing the health of people in rural and remote Australia. Conference, Toowoomba; February 1991 wisdom of Consultants like George Neale and Margaret The successful completion of these negotiations with the Conley. We are well-placed on this but never complacent; we Department of Health and Ageing shows that the value of the have seen from both Australian and overseas experience that it organisation is recognised in Canberra. As Chairperson, how- is essential that Board Members understand their responsibili- ever, and as someone who lives and works in regional Australia, ties and are strong in meeting them. my main concern is to see that the organisation is valued by people in rural, regional and remote areas. To be sure of this we Policy need constant feedback, and to regularly check our own We continue to generate policy and there was a Charter processes and accountability. It will help us in this if readers of released in the election with 17 brief position statements. Later the Yearbook would keep in touch and make sure we know as in the year there was policy work on mental health, Medicare, an organisation what matters in health to you, to your family scholarships, education for health professionals, and the rural and community. 4 National Rural Health Alliance Yearbook and Annual Report 2001–2002 annual report laid out 11.12.02 04.10 PM Page 5 Scholarships and all others on staff at the National Rural Health Alliance. Most importantly, I thank all of you as rural people and prac- Until 30 June we continued to administer the John Flynn titioners for your support and ideas that keep the National Scholarship Scheme (JFSS) and the Rural Australia Medical Rural Health Alliance alive. Undergraduate Scholarship (RAMUS) Scheme for the Department of Health and Ageing. I believe we have done this well, thanks in large part to the excellent input of Alison Miles dd dd dddddddd dddddddd dddddddd dddddddd dddddddd dddddddd