Message from our Acting CEO
Brrr… the cold has well and truly set in this week in the nation’s capital with a series of sub-zero mornings and some serious frosts. But as a new resident of the ACT I am embracing the challenge, and Saturday night will find me defying the cold at GIO Stadium to watch the Brumbies and Sharks play out the Super Rugby Quarter Final. Go Brumbies!
This week I attended a public consultation session on behalf of SARRAH members regarding the proposed National Safety and Quality Primary Health Care (NSQPHC) Standards. This consultation process should be of interest to anyone providing health care in the private sector, as the Commission wrestles with the complexities of allied health services provided in a vast array of settings from the clinic to the sports ground, from the local aged care facility to private homes. My role was to ensure that the voice of rural allied health practitioners was heard, so that any unintended consequences in applying these new standards in rural settings might be averted. You too can participate in this process by visiting the Commission’s website and taking part in a survey. In particular, consider how such a quality and safety framework might be applied. While participation in practice accreditation will be voluntary, what are the possible impacts of applying these standards to allied health practices? For example, would the practitioner’s access to rebates for MBS items be influenced by whether the practitioner was accredited? And how might private health insurers engage with practices that are not accredited? Consultation sessions are still occurring, and the survey is open until the end of July.
Last week I mentioned that SARRAH has produced a rapid review of strategies for increasing allied health recruitment and retention in rural Australia. This document has now been uploaded onto SARRAH’s website and may be found here. Author Kris Battye clearly outlines the components of a rural workforce pipeline that includes recruitment of students from a rural background, delivering rural training, exposing students during this training to rural curriculum and placements, and then building regional postgraduate pathways. Regular readers will recognise this description as the foundations of SARRAH’s push for targeted efforts to build the rural allied health workforce of the future. I am sure this document will be a well-used resource for policy makers and service providers to consider what it will take to improve access to allied health services in the bush.
Stay warm, and have a great weekend!
Cheers Cath
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SARRAH Releases Report
Strategies for Increasing Allied Health Recruitment and Retention in Rural Australia
SARRAH was commissioned by the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health, Workforce Planning and Talent Development branch to develop a paper outlining evidence that answers the question:
What strategies have been proven effective or ineffective for increasing the efficacy of allied health rural recruitment and retention in Australia?
Read the final report below
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SARRAH 2020 Conference
SARRAH is pleased to advise that our conference will be held on the 14 & 15 September 2020. Make sure you save the date in your calendar and come to Townsville to help us celebrate 25 years of SARRAH.
SARRAH Celebrating 25 Years
Image: View of the Shore from the Strand Jetty - Photographer Megan MacKinnon
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Would you like to advertise your job vacancies with SARRAH?
Please contact us for more information.
Current Employment Opportunities
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Upcoming Events and Conferences
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Other News
Painaustralia has today launched the new National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management.
The National Mental Health Commission has finalised the membership of the steering committee to oversee the Commissions work to develop the National Peer Workforce Development Guidelines under Action 29 of the fifth National Mental Health Implementation Plan.
The NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner will become a reality next month after a landmark Bill was passed by Parliament.
A new survey by the Department of Rural Health Regional SA Health has identified a major service gap in access to mental health services for the Lower Eyre Peninsula despite the community experiencing higher numbers of depression and anxiety compared to the rest of South Australia.
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety upcoming hearings
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Date: 15 July – 17 July 2019
Location: Cairns Convention Centre - Sheridan St & Wharf St, Cairns City QLD 4870
Time: 10.00am local time |
The Cairns hearing will focus on aspects of care in residential, home and flexible aged care programs and examine rural and regional issues and quality of life for individuals in care.
Further information is available on the Darwin and Cairns Hearing page. |
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Date: 8 July – 12 July 2019
Location: Supreme Court Building, State Square, Darwin City NT 0800
Time: 10.00am local time |
The Darwin hearing will focus on aspects of care in residential, home and flexible aged care programs and examine rural and regional issues and quality of life for individuals in care.
Further information is available on the Darwin and Cairns Hearing page. |
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Date: 24 June – 28 June 2019
Location: Commonwealth Law Courts - 1 Victoria Avenue, Perth WA 6000
Time: 9.30am local time |
The Perth hearing of the Royal Commission will inquire into the nature of person-centred care, advanced care planning and palliative care services.
Further information is available on the Perth Hearing page. A live webcast of the hearing will be available. |
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