nsw rural health plan issues paper 2013

NSW Rural Health Plan Issues Paper

NSW MINISTRY OF HEALTH

73 Miller Street

NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060

Tel. (02) 9391 9000

Fax. (02) 9391 9101

TTY. (02) 9391 9900

www.health.nsw.gov.au

Produced by:

Health System Planning and Investment

NSW Ministry of Health

Tel. (02) 9391 9182

Email. [email protected]

This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or

training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source.

It may not be reproduced for commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for

purposes other than those indicated above requires written permission from

the NSW Ministry of Health.

Image Credit: Destination NSW (Batlow township and surrounding countryside)

© NSW Ministry of Health 2013

SHPN (IC) 130218

ISBN 978 1 74187 874 5

Further copies of this document can be downloaded from the

NSW Health website www.health.nsw.gov.au

July 2013

NSW Rural Health Plan Issues Paper NSW HealtH PaGe 1

Content

Introduction ........................................................................................................2

Improvements in NSW rural health services since 2002 .................................3

NSW rural health in 2013: current initiatives supporting rural health ..............5

Rural and remote health issues in 2013 ............................................................6

Consultation........................................................................................................8

Appendix: Current initiatives supporting rural health in NSW ...........................................9

NSW HealtH NSW Rural Health Plan Issues Paper

Just over a quarter of the people in New South Wales

live outside the three major cities of Sydney, Newcastle

and Wollongong.

There has been significant improvement and investment

in rural health services since the last rural health plan

was released in 2002, including a substantial increase

in the rural health workforce and investment in rural

health infrastructure.

The following information illustrates the improvements

to NSW rural health care since 2002:

■ People in rural NSW now receive 87% of their

health care within their Local Health District

(LHD) compared with 82% in 2002.

■ In 2013, 95% of the NSW population has

access to a Cancer Care Centre within 100kms

of their residence. In 2002, there was one Cancer

Centre in Rural NSW. In 2013, there are six.

■ The NSW Health rural workforce increased

by Medical – 59.3%, Nursing – 13.8%,

Allied Health – 43.2% from 2007 to 2012.

■ The NSW Government spent $3.56 billion in

2011/12 on rural NSW health services compared

with $1.72 in 2002/03.

■ The NSW Government has made a record

investment of $1.7 billion in rural and regional

health infrastructure in its first term of

Government.

But despite these improvements, health services and

people living in rural and remote NSW still experience

some challenges due to a range of factors including:

geographic isolation, socioeconomic disadvantage, poorer

access to health services, greater exposure to injury risks

and Aboriginal populations with a high prevalence of

health risk factors and diseases.

In November 2012, the Minister for Health and Minister

for Medical Research, Jillian Skinner, announced the

establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Committee for

Rural Health in recognition that issues faced by rural,

regional and remote communities in NSW are different

to those in metropolitan areas.

The Committee, which reports directly to the Minister,

will ensure that the voice of rural NSW is heard and

provide advice to the Minister about issues of concern

to rural communities.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee for Rural Health is

co-chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional

Health, Melinda Pavey and Associate Professor Austin

Curtin, a surgeon from Northern NSW. The membership

comprises clinicians, community members and members

of Local Health Districts (LHDs) from rural, regional

and remote NSW.

The committe will also assist in the development of the

NSW Rural Health Plan. It is intended that the next rural

health plan will identify innovative solutions for rural,

regional and remote health in NSW. Noting the

considerable new expenditure on health service

infrastructure and the devolution of decision making to

the Local Health Districts, the plan will focus on initiatives

and strategies where further work is required.

This Issues Paper has been drafted to support the

consultation process that will be sponsored by the

Ministerial Advisory Committee as part of the

development of the NSW Rural Health Plan.

The paper outlines the following:

■ improvements in rural health services in NSW since

the release of the last NSW rural health plan in 2002

■ current issues for rural health in NSW

■ a series of questions for the consideration of

stakeholders

■ information on how stakeholders can respond to these

questions and provide input into the development of

the NSW Rural Health Plan (see page 8).

Introduction


Significant progress has been made since the release of the last NSW rural health plan in 2002. Information on the key

achievements relating to the initiatives in the 2002 Plan is outlined below (with an emphasis on recent achievements):

INITIATIVES PROPOSED IN 2002

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2002

Attracting and keeping doctors, nurses and allied health professionals in rural communities

Considerable increases in clinician numbers illustrated by comparisons by financial year of average estimated fulltime equivalent rural staffing of Medical, Nursing, Allied Health & Oral Health and VMO by headcount.

CLINICIAN TYPE JUNE 2007 JUNE 2012 VARIATION #

VARIATION %

Medical 724 1153 429 59.3%

Nursing 9018 10259 1241 13.8%

Allied Health 1263 1809 546 43.2%

Oral Health Practitioners 181 202 21 11.6%

Total FTE for above groups

11186 13423 2237 20.0%

Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) - Headcount

2311 2778 467 20.2%

Note: from 2007 to 2012 the NSW Rural Population increased by 2%

There are a significant number of initiatives underway to support, develop and recruit the NSW rural health workforce including:

■ NSW Health Professionals Workforce Plan 2012-2022 ■ NSW Area of Need Program ■ Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program.

Making health services more accessible for rural people

Since 2002 specialist services in rural and remote NSW have expanded considerably:

■ Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory services in Tamworth, Orange, Coffs Harbour and Lismore. Wagga Wagga has arrangements for this service through a private provider.

■ Specialist cancer services including radiotherapy services in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Lismore and Orange Hospital.

■ Acute stroke services have been established in Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Port Macquarie, Shoalhaven, Orange, Bathurst, Tweed and Wagga Wagga. The NSW Stroke Reperfusion Program, led by the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI), in partnership with the Ambulance Service of NSW and the state’s Local Health Districts commenced in 2013 and is being rolled out across 20 hospitals, including Orange, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and John Hunter Hospital.

■ Renal Dialysis and Trauma services have also been expanded in rural and remote NSW. ■ Mobile services have been introduced including Mobile Xray services for TB Screening in indigenous

communities.

The Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) has undergone significant reforms to improve transport and accommodation support for rural patients, including:

■ From 1 January 2012, eligibility for travel and accommodation subsidies have been broadened to cover patients travelling at least 200 kilometres per week (cumulative distance).

■ These changes particularly benefit patients, such as renal dialysis and cancer patients, who have to travel regularly to access specialist medical treatment.

■ From 1 January 2013, changes have been introduced to greatly simplify the previously complex IPTAAS application process.

Improvements in NSW rural health services since 2002


INITIATIVES PROPOSED IN 2002

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2002

Securing the future of rural hospitals

There has been a significant increase in support for rural health services, including the establishment of the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) and the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI).

NSW has an extensive network of telehealth services supporting a wide range of specialist services including a range of diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services. Telehealth services are currently available in 396 rural locations. There are numerous telehealth specialist network services operating to link rural and metropolitan facilities. Some examples are:

■ Paediatric Child Health Network linking rural sites for clinical education ■ Rural Stroke Care Co-ordinator Network linking rural stroke units with metro centres

to standardise clinical guidelines and care ■ Burns referral services linking rural sites to Concord, RNSH and Westmead for diagnosis

and treatment plans ■ Aged Care and Rehabilitation links with Royal Ryde Rehabilitation.

The NSW Government rural and regional hospital redevelopment (including Commonwealth Government collaboration projects) schedule includes:

■ Tamworth Base Hospital – $220 million investment. New acute hospital. The project is due for completion early 2016.

■ Wagga Wagga Base Hospital – $270 million investment. Construction of 50 bed mental health unit to be completed late 2013. Hospital construction completion late 2016.

■ Dubbo Base Hospital – $79.8 million investment. Completion scheduled for mid 2015. Hospital upgrade includes Dubbo Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit which was completed February 2013.

■ Port Macquarie Base Hospital – $110 million investment. Due to be completed in 2015. ■ Kempsey Hospital – $80 million investment. Scheduled completion late 2015. ■ Lismore Hospital – $80 million investment. New and expanded emergency department with 31 spaces,

plus Emergency Medicine Unit with 12 treatment spaces. Main works to commence 2014. ■ Bega, South East Regional Hospital – $170 million investment. New hospital will include an expanded

emergency department, emergency medicine unit and additional operating theatres. Construction due to be completed early 2016.

■ Lachlan Health Service including the Parkes new hospital and Forbes hospital redevelopment. $12.5 million has been allocated in the 2013-14 Budget to progress the development of the Lachlan Health Service.

■ Cancer Centres, including the newly completed North West Regional Cancer Centre and the Shoalhaven Regional Cancer Centre ($10 million project in 2013).

■ As at September 2012, there were a total of 54 Multi Purpose Services operational and a total of 59 services that have been redeveloped and are delivering services under the integrated care approach of the MPS model. Current Multi Purpose Service projects include:

■ Lockhart MPS – NSW Government commitment of $8 million ■ Gulgong MPS – NSW Government commitment of $7 million ■ Peak Hill MPS – NSW Government commitment of $6 million.

A voice for rural NSW

The NSW Government has ensured rural communities have a stronger voice, through:

■ Appointment of the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health. ■ Establishment of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Rural Health ■ Greater local decision making through the appointment of Local Health Districts and Governing Boards

to allow decisions about health care to be made close to patients by local representatives who know and understand their communities, have control of their budgets and manage their workforce in a way that reflects the needs of patients.

■ Establishment of the ACI’s Rural Health Network supporting rural clinicians and services through further development and improvements to rural models of care.


NSW rural health in 2013: current initiatives supporting rural health

Recommendations and strategies included in the NSW

Rural Health Plan will build on the continuing and

considerable work that is underway to improve health

services in rural areas.

The Appendix provides information about initiatives to

develop health services in rural NSW that are currently

being undertaken by the Ministry of Health, Health Pillar

Organisations and other health organisations.

The NSW Rural Health Plan will focus on solutions,

initiatives and strategies where further work is required or

where there is an identified need for further

development.

It is proposed that the NSW Rural Health Plan build on

the goals of The National Strategic Framework for Rural

and Remote Health released in 2012.

The goals of the Framework are that rural and remote

communities will have:

■ Improved access to appropriate and

comprehensive health care

■ Effective, appropriate and sustainable health

care service delivery

■ An appropriate, skilled and well-supported

health workforce

■ Collaborative health service planning and policy

development

■ Strong leadership, governance, transparency

and accountability


Prior to the first meeting of the Ministerial Advisory

Committee for Rural Health in March 2013, initial

consultation was held with Committee members and the

Agency for Clinical Innovation Rural Health Network. This

consultation identified the following as key issues for

rural and regional health:

1. Workforce issues relating to recruitment,

retention and training

2. The need to work together and improve

the coordination of care

3. The need for better access to specialty

services and tailored rural health services

models of care

4. Community expectations for health services

delivered in their local areas

5. Enhanced Information and Technology

6. Strengthened Administration, Coordination

and Research

A summary of each of these identified issues

is outlined below:

1. Workforce issues relating to recruitment, retention and training

The rural health workforce needs to be developed in

keeping with cross-disciplinary and generalist requirements

which are particularly important in rural areas.

In the overall remodelling of health practice in rural and

remote areas, inter-professional education and ongoing

training is essential.

There is a critical need to expand existing scopes of

practice and create new roles to optimise workforce

capacity and to meet health care needs. The development

of more advanced roles for rural General Practitioners,

including in obstetrics, surgery and anaesthetics, and

nurse practitioners is seen as a useful strategy to

strengthen and maintain a skilled rural health workforce.

It is also important to consider the roles and scopes of

practice of a wide range of other health care workers

including remote health workers, nurses, allied health

workers, midwives, Indigenous health workers and

vocationally trained workers.

2. The need to work together and improve the coordination of care

Improving coordination of care and reducing the silos

between local service providers such as Local Health Districts,

other government agencies, community General Practitioners,

Non Government Organisations, Medicare Locals and

pharmacies in small rural communities is crucial.

This will ensure a reduction in duplication and improved

patient care. Examples identified where the coordination

of care could be improved include: coordination between

community services working within communities such as

health and disability; Medicare Locals and their role in

working with Local Health Districts in community health/

primary care delivery; improved communication between

hospital, General Practitioners and pharmacies; and cross

border coordination issues.

3. The need for better access to specialty services and tailored rural health services models of care

To achieve better outcomes in access and equity, it is

necessary to develop and apply service models and

models of care that are appropriate for, and respond to,

the unique challenges of delivering quality care in rural

and remote settings and that support continuity of care.

In NSW, significant investment has been made to improve

health services in rural and remote communities and to

create better, more flexible approaches to care. Yet there

remains scope to apply and expand new and innovative

approaches in delivery.

Rural and remote health issues in 2013


The infrastructure and care models of Regional Base

Hospitals and Multi Purpose Services have been

developed considerably over the last ten years. Further

consideration of the models of care provided by District

Hospitals is required. Rurally based general hospitals with

less than 100 beds are District hospitals. Further

deliberation on ways to maximise the value of these

hospitals to their communities is sought.

The nation-wide focus on out-of-hospital care and

hospital avoidance strategies has resulted in increased

numbers of patients with acute, complex conditions

being cared for in the community. This requires an

increase in resources and skills for Community Health

services, to incorporate and utilise these changing models

of care which benefit rural communities.

Further solutions in patient transport also need to be

considered as an issue affecting rural community access

to specialty services.

The difference in life expectancy between the general

population and Aboriginal people, many of whom live in

rural NSW, is estimated to be approximately 7-9 years.

The greatest contributors to higher mortality rates and

excess deaths experienced by Aboriginal people are

chronic disease, in particular cardiovascular disease,

mental health, diabetes, cancers, and injury. Additionally

access to care (including transport issues) can be a

significant issue for Aboriginal people living in rural and

remote areas. A continued focus on improving the health

of NSW rural Aboriginal people is required.

4. Community expectations for health services delivered in their local areas

Community expectations of what services can, or should,

be provided in each community was cited as a key issue.

Currently, all health services are not able to be provided

in all cities and towns in NSW. This is due to a variety

of factors including: the viability and sustainability of

service delivery; ensuring safety and quality standards;

complexity of services; health workforce requirements;

limited specialised equipment; and the cost of service

provision. Further, ensuring that what services are

deliverable is made clear, and the equity and quality

n of access, is crucial.

5. Enhanced Information and Technology

Improving the use, capacity and availability of technology

for training, information management and delivery of

health services is an issue for rural health.

Further, the use of – eHealth, remote monitoring and

Telehealth – as part of a coordinated and integrated

service model will assist in achieving improved access and

outcomes for rural and regional communities. eHealth

services reduce travel time for service users, as medical

expertise and advice can be provided remotely.

6. Strengthened Administration, Coordination and Research

Improving administration, research capacity and support

for rural Local Health Districts, particularly for small and

diverse rural Local Health Districts is needed.

The Health Pillar agencies and NSW Ministry of Health

need to develop programs, policies and clinical guidelines

in ways which rural districts can easily roll out as the

health problems faced by rural and remote communities

are complex and not amenable to simple or short-term

solutions.

Investing in research is important in developing

sustainable long term solutions as outlined in the NSW

Government Response to the NSW Health & Medical

Research Strategic Review. This will enable the

development of a better evidence base for rural health

policy and service development.


This Issues Paper has been developed to facilitate

consultation with stakeholders. The following questions

are for the consideration of stakeholders:

1. Do the issues outlined in this Issues Paper

reflect the key issues for rural and regional

health in NSW?

2. How should the delivery of NSW rural health

services change in the next five years?

3. What solutions /initiatives should be

considered to address the key issues

for rural and regional health?

4. Are there other relevant matters which have not

been identified in this Issues Paper?

Consultation on this Issues Paper and on the

development of the NSW Rural Health Plan will include

online, written and face-to-face consultation with

communities, other agencies and health services/

providers. Further information can be found on the NSW

Rural Health Website: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/rural

How to make a Submission

NSW Health encourages stakeholders to make submissions

on any matters raised in this Issues Paper or in relation

to rural health in NSW. It is requested that stakeholders

provide submissions by 30 September 2013.

To support the involvement of stakeholders in decision

making on Government policy, services and projects, the

NSW Government has developed a website for agencies

and stakeholders to provide feedback. Input into the

development of the NSW Rural Health Plan can be made

using NSW Government Have Your Say website.

Submissions on this Issues Paper may be lodged through

the Have Your Say website: http://www.haveyoursay.nsw.

gov.au/

Please note that the Have Your Say website is the

preferred method for written input into the development

of the NSW Rural Health Plan, however submissions can

also be made to the contact person below. For more

information about the NSW Health Rural Health Plan

please contact:

Ms Simone Proft, Secretariat

Ministerial Advisory Committee for Rural Health


Email. [email protected]

[email protected]

Phone. (02) 9391 9182

Consultation



Aboriginal Health

NSW Aboriginal Health Plan 2013-2023

Other Initiatives: The Knockout Health Challenge

(linked to obesity and chronic disease prevention

initiatives); Aboriginal Injury Prevention Demonstration

Projects Program.

Health Protection NSW

NSW Health Drinking Water Monitoring Program; NSW

Health Water Unit Quality Assurance Program (QAP);

Housing for Health; Aboriginal Environmental Health

Officer (EHO) Training Program.

Health System Planning and Investment

Rural Capital Program, Rural Adult Emergency Clinical

Guidelines; Telehealth (services are currently available

through 628 videoconference units across the state,

of which 396 are in rural locations); development of Multi

Purpose Services.

Integrated Care

Grants Management Improvement Program (GMIP);

HealthOne NSW; Pharmacy Health Check; S19(2)

exemptions; NSW Government plan to increase access to

Palliative Care 2012-2016; NSW Health Framework for

Women’s Health 2013; Policy and Implementation Plan

for Healthy Culturally Diverse Communities 2012-2016;

NSW Refugee Health Plan 2011-2016; Aged Care

Assessment Teams Protocols & Procedures; Home and

Community Care Program (HACC); NSW Health Disability

Action Plan 2009-2014; Isolated Patients Travel and

Accommodation Assistance Scheme.

Mental Health

Community Engagement & Action Program; Specialist

Mental Health Services for Older People; Housing

and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI).

Nursing and Midwifery

Post Graduate Rural Student Midwifery Scholarships;

Rural and Remote Connect Program; Essentials of Care

Program – cultural change in hospitals/health care

services; Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadetship

Program; Enrolled Nurse Scholarships; Increasing

employment of clinical nurse, midwife educators and

specialists; Re-entry to Nursing Scholarships; Development

of Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Programs (HETI

partnership); Intensive Care Best Practice Manual Project.

Oral Health

Oral Health 2020: A Strategic Framework for Dental

Health in NSW including initiatives for workforce

incentives, improved education and training

opportunities, enhancement of Regional and Rural

Oral Health Centres and improved linkages and

partnerships with University programs.

Voluntary Dental Graduate Year Program; Water

Fluoridation Program; NSW Aboriginal Oral Health

Program; NSW Oral Health Capital Strategy 2011-2020;

Mobile dental vans; School-based dental clinics;

Integrated health promotion; Aboriginal Oral Health

“Hub and Spoke Program”; Flying Doctor “Tooth”

Outreach Dental Service.

APPENDIX

Current initiatives supporting rural health


Population Health

Preventive Health: Healthy Children Initiative including

support for: Munch and Move Program; Live Life Well @

School Program; Go4Fun; Get Healthy Information and

Coaching Service® (GHS); Social Marketing to Young

People – prevention of lifestyle related chronic disease.

HIV & Sexually Transmissible Infections: NSW HIV

Strategy: A New Era 2012-2015; NSW Sexually

Transmissible Infection (STI) Plan 2013-2016; Needle and

Syringe Program (NSP); Hepatitis B & C education and

awareness campaigns.

Tobacco: NSW Tobacco Strategy 2012-2017, including

development of Quit for New Life Program for pregnant

Aboriginal women.

Falls Prevention: NSW Health Falls Plan – Prevention of

Falls and Harm from Falls among Older People 2011-2015

including: Stepping On Program; Active and Healthy

Website; Falls Network Rural Forums – with Clinical

Excellence Commission, Agency for Clinical Innovation

and other partners.

Healthy Workers: Healthy Workers Initiative.

System Relationships

Diseconomies of Scale Project; Locum Review – Rural

Strategy; Rural Information Technology (IT) Solutions;

Cross border patient flow solutions; Rural Medical Staff

Employment initiatives; LHD Diagnostics.

Workforce

Health Professionals Workforce Plan 2012-2022.

Key components of the plan include: Integrated and

comprehensive workforce planning; Effective working

arrangements; Collaborative health system; Support

for local decision making; Effective health professional

managers and leaders; Recognition of generalist and

specialist skills; Support for a skilled workforce; Effective

use of health care workforce

Rural Scholarships for Medical Trainees; Area of Need

Program.

Currently in development

NSW State Health Plan; Bilateral Plan: Implementation

of National Primary Health Strategic Framework;

NSW Health Drug & Alcohol Plan.

NSW Health Organisations

Ambulance Service of NSW

Stroke Reperfusion; Paramedic Connect; Authorised Care;

State Cardiac Reperfusion Strategy; Aboriginal Cardiac

Education Program; Rural Paramedic Scoping Project;

Rural Mental Health Emergency Transport (RMHET)

Project; Clinical Emergency Response System Assistance

(CERS Assist).

HealthShare NSW

HealtheNet; Expansion of Electronic Medical Records

(EMRs) in NSW; Primary Care Connectivity; Telehealth/

Teleconnectivity; e-Learning; Health Wide Area Network.

Sydney Children’s Hospital Network

Outreach clinics for remote and rural areas;

Videoconferencing between clinicians at tertiary centres

and regional sites; locum relief for isolated paediatricians;

network support incorporating rural LHD partners to help

rural clinicians provide quality care for children and

families as close to their homes as possible.


NSW Health Pillars

Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI)

ACI has 29 Clinical Networks, Taskforces and Institutes

providing forums for health professions and consumers to

design and support implementation of models of care

and innovation.

The ACI Clinical Networks are: Aged Health; Anaesthesia

Perioperative Care; Blood and Marrow Transplant; Brain

Injury Rehabilitation; Burn Injury; Cardiac; Emergency

Care Institute; Endocrine; Gastroenterology;

Gynaecological Oncology; Institute of Trauma and Injury

Management; Intellectual Disability; Intensive Care

Coordination and Monitoring Unit; Musculoskeletal;

Neurosurgery; Nuclear Medicine; Nutrition;

Ophthalmology; Pain Management; Palliative Care;

Radiology; Rehabilitation; Renal; Respiratory; Rural Health;

Spinal Cord Injury; Stroke; Transition Care; Urology.

There are 18 models of care that will be further

developed in 2013.

Cancer Institute NSW

Anti-tobacco campaign; investment in cancer research;

increase in access to multidisciplinary cancer teams in

rural and regional areas of NSW; online tool ‘eviQ’ which

provides up-to-date treatment information includes an

Opioid Conversion Calculator for clinicians to safely

convert one opioid regimen to an equianalgesic dose of

another regimen.

Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC)

CEC Strategic Plan, 2012 – 2015

Between the Flags Program; Blood Watch Program;

Chartbook Program; Collaborating Hospitals Audit of

Surgical Mortality; Central Line Associated Bacteraemia in

Intensive Care Units project; Clinical Leadership Program;

Clinical Practice Improvement Training Program; NSW Falls

Prevention Program; National Hand Hygiene Initiative; In

Safe Hands Program; Medication Safety and Quality

Program; Paediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines Audit

Project; Partnering with Patients Program; Patient Safety

Program; Quality Systems Assessment Program;

Quality Use of Antimicrobials in Intensive Care Units

Project; Special Committee Investigating Deaths under

Anaesthesia; Severe Infection and Sepsis Project; Special

Reviews; Undergraduate Education Program.

Health Education and Training Institute (HETI)

District Health Education and Training Institute Online

Programs Rural Generalist Training Programs (RGTP), Rural

Preferential Recruitment Program (RPR), People

Management Skills Framework (PMSF), Financial

Management Education Program (FMEP), Inter

Professional Education (IPE), Clinicians and Executives

Team Leadership (CETL) Program, NSW Rural & Remote

Scholarship Program, Sister Alison Bush Mobile Simulation

Centre (MSC), Rural Health and Research Congress

NSW Kids & Families

A strategic plan is currently being developed.

Child & Youth Health: NSW Youth Health Policy 2011-

2016: Healthy bodies, healthy minds, vibrant futures;

Youth Health Forums; Sustaining NSW Families; Specific

Child Health Network projects: RESUS4KIDS; Allied Health

Education and Support project; Development of

paediatric capacity across the Northern Child Health

Network (NCHN); Obesity program (in Orange).

Aboriginal Child Health: Aboriginal Maternal and Infant

Health Service (AMIHS) program. Building Strong

Foundations for Aboriginal Children, Families and

Communities (BSF).

SHPN (IC) 130218

nsw rural health plan issues paper 2013

Health & Medicine