Rural Health AustraliaFriday 12 October 2012, 2:33PM
Media release from Rural Health Australia
The program for the 12th National Rural Health Conference next
April is being developed from abstracts received for research
reports, workshops and colloquiums.
The Conference's call for abstracts is in effect a point-of-time
audit of contemporary issues influencing health and wellbeing of
people in rural and remote areas. At the close of the call last
week 480 abstracts had been received. They revealed the strong
commitment to improving health that exists in rural and remote
communities. Over 50 abstracts deal with the health of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people. Others confirm ongoing concerns
about chronic conditions including mental health, cardio vascular
disease, poor oral health and diabetes.
Strong Commitment, Bright Future is the theme of the Conference to
be held in Adelaide 7-10 April 2013.
The Conference is about current opportunities, new ideas and
building on the wealth of existing experience for improving country
health in the future.
The Conference program will provide many excellent opportunities
for rural people to share their experiences and strategies for
delivering successful health services in even the most remote
locations.
It will feature arts and health activities developed in
consultation with Country Arts SA. A National Framework for Arts
and Health should be available for consideration by April and would
provide a new policy centre piece for joint activity in both the
arts and the health sectors to support better community and
individual health.
The Conference is likely to include specific focus on successful
health promotion in rural and remote areas relating in particular
to smoking and healthy ageing. Another priority for consideration
is how best to deliver the potential for eHealth to strengthen
health services and provide additional support for rural people,
without increasing isolation through bypassing face-to-face care.
Monitoring the effectiveness of health reforms for country people
will also be on the program, particularly in regard to Medicare
Locals, small hospitals and the National Disability Insurance
Scheme.
You can keep in touch with all 12th Conference developments at the
Conference website via www.ruralhealth.org.au
Twitter: @NRHAlliance #ruralhealthconf
12th National Rural Health Conference
Strong Commitment. Bright Future.
Adelaide Convention Centre, South Australia
7-10 April 2013