NSW Rural Doctors Network
| Name: |
NSW Rural Doctors Network |
| State: |
New South Wales |
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| Physical Address: |
| Level 3, 133 King Street |
| NEWCASTLE NSW 2300 |
| Australia |
| Postal Address: |
| Level 3, 133 King Street |
| NEWCASTLE NSW 2300 |
| Australia |
|
|
|
|
The NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) was established as a public company limited by guarantee in January 1998. Since that time there has been a transition process whereby RDN has taken over many of the pre-exiting roles of the Rural Doctors Resource Network (RDRN), established in 1988 and the NSW Rural Divisions Coordinating Unit (NSW RDCU), established in 1993.
With the aim of being seen as a "one-stop shop", the NSW RDN is now recognised as being the peak body on rural medical workforce issues in NSW and is the Rural Workforce Agency for NSW. The overall aim of the NSW RDN is to provide the highest possible standard of health care to rural and remote communities, through the provision of a competent up to date and continuing medical workforce in rural and remote NSW.
Core and project funding are received from the NSW Department of Health through the Department's Non Government Organisation (NGO) Program and infrastructure and project funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. RDN contracts with the Alliance of NSW Divisions to provide rural specific support and coordination to the NSW Rural Divisions of General Practice.
The NSW RDN receives annual funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care to develop and administer the Rural and Remote General Practice Program (RRGPP) in NSW.
RDN achieves its objectives by working collaboratively with the 17 rural Divisions of General Practice in NSW, the Alliance of NSW Divisions, the Rural Doctors Association of NSW, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Training Program, the Australian Medical Association, the University Medical Faculties and Departments of Rural Health, the NSW Rural Health Training Units, the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, the State and Commonwealth Departments of Health, Local Government, the Rural Area Health Services and other stakeholders such as rural communities, CWA & rural doctors and their families.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
- Provide cohesion and coordination in a wide range of rural health initiatives.
- Acting as a central point for doctors and communities seeking advice on rural medical practice.
CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE
- To continue to support rural communities in attracting and retaining doctors.
- To continue to develop innovative and sustainable models of medical practice including consultation with rural communities on prioritising their health needs.
- To continue to place as many appropriately skills Permanent Resident Overseas Trained Doctors (PROTDs) as possible.
- To continue to encourage university and high school students to undertake a rural health career.
- To establish specific programs designed to encourage young women into the rural medical workforce and to support those female practitioners already in rural practice.
- To support rural medical specialists and to encourage additional specialists to work in rural areas.
Page last updated: August 2003
