Susanne Tegen - National Rural Health Alliance

Rural Road to Health

Susanne Tegan is the CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance in Australia and an advocate for rural communities.

Episode summary:

01.15 Susanne tells us about her professional background and how she developed her interest in rural health.

06.00 What does she find most enjoyable and most challenging about living in a rural area?

12.50 What is the National Rural Health Alliance?

17.55 How did the membership organizations come together to form NRHA? How did that aid advocacy efforts?

21.20 What are some of the main challenges facing rural Australians when it comes to their health and wellbeing?

28.05 How is the NRHA trying to address some of these challenges and what is their role?

35.50 How does the NRHA work with others outside of the healthcare sector?

41.15 What will the NRHA be focusing on over the next few years?

Key Messages:

Addressing population health needs, and dealing with solving problems when you don’t have all the ingredients you need.

Lucky to have amazing space outside of the city, gives you peace of mind and time to reflect and think. Sun up and sun down, smells, bird sounds, it really centres you. People pull together after disasters, sterling examples of innovation and resilience.

The hypocrisy of rural people being seen as “hicks” as they may not look like they are well educated.

Two thirds of Australia’s export income comes from rural, remote and regional Australia and so does 90% of the food that Australians eat, and they bring in 50% of the tourism income. Rural people make up 30% of the population (7 million people).

Everything is more expensive, the “tyranny of distance” places stress on individuals, businesses and communities. Rural communities are more sensitive to economic downturns.

In Australia people are dying 12-16 years earlier in rural and remote areas than in the cities.

The National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) is a non-profit, funded by membership fees and the federal government. An agency with 53 members, entities that work along the patient journey or in health workforce education pathways. Supports researchers in rural Australia.

Geographical narcissism where we have a belief that if something is developed or driven by the city it must be good, but if it is driven by people on the ground that its second rate. It isn't, but it's different and it may need different funding models.

NRHA looks at increasing the understanding of issues facing rural health, workforce shortages, socioeconomic needs of rural communities, they advocate for collaboration based on values and need driven with the community being part of the development of initiatives.

NRHA reminds the government that taxpayer money which is to be used to meet the needs of the citizens.

NRHA is now 35 years old, in 1991 the first National Rural Health Conference was held in rural Queensland.

NRHA has been promoting working together of national and federal governments and advocating for a national rural health strategy.

Rural Australians are sicker and are dying up to 16 years earlier.

More than 50% of rural doctors are international medical graduates. Revolving door of clinicians, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, many communities are feeling let down and not supported.

From research of government funded programs, rural Australians are getting AUS$6.55 billion per annum less spent on them, this is about $850 less per person.

Rural and Indigenous students are much more likely to return to their rural and remote communities to work after graduation.

Big issues: workforce, population health needs, underfunding and inflexible funding, multidisciplinary care, possibilities, governments working together and seeing the importance of governments working with communities.

NRHA is on a number of ministerial committees who are involved in setting policies and providing feedback from the grass roots.

NRHA participates in state and federal senate inquiries and they provide submissions for questions relating to rural health and rural communities supporting their members to provide evidence and asks aligned with shared goals.

NRHA works closely with other industries based in rural communities as they are important for the health and wellbeing of those communities. The value chain is not just health.

NRHA has asked for AUS$1 billion over 4 years and 50% of that to be block or blended funding for those communities and regions where the market has failed to support infrastructure and the other 50% to go towards health services.

We need to do something differently as we now have the data and know that inequalities exist.

What will NRHA be focusing on over the next few years? 1) Australian National Rural Health Strategy this includes the AUS$1billion fund, 2) building a community of practice through developing a Rural Health Hub, 3) closing the gap regarding Aboriginal health access, 4) working with communities for disaster planning and resilience, 5) supporting clinician wellbeing, 6) advocating for more funding for rural research, and 7) international community of practice.

NRHA website: https://www.ruralhealth.org.au/

Email Susanne Tegen: [e-mail]

Thank you for listening to the Rural Road to Health!

Rural Health Compass