17th National Rural Health Conference focuses on eye care and health equity in rural and remote Australia

By Jingyi Chen

The 17^th National Rural Health Conference, hosted by the National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance), was held in Perth/Boorloo on Noongar Country from the 16^th to 18^th of September 2024.

With thanks to Optometry Australia for their support, I had the opportunity to attend the conference and share my experiences. As one of 53 national organisations that are part of the Alliance, Optometry Australia is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people living in rural and remote Australia and to raising awareness of the crucial need to improve access to eye health and vision care in these communities.

The conference brought together almost 800 attendees, including rural healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders. The conference, themed ‘Imagine, Inspire, and Innovate,’ aimed to spark conversations, foster connections, and highlight success stories within the rural health workforce, all with the common objective of achieving healthcare equity regardless of geographic location.

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Susi Tegen, Chief Executive of the Alliance, opened the conference by highlighting the numerous challenges faced by rural residents in accessing healthcare. She underscored issues, such as limited resources and maldistribution of the health workforce, which contribute to poorer health outcomes for rural Australians. Delegates were called upon to consider innovative solutions to deliver services that are coordinated, fit for purpose, and can meet the needs of the rural population.

The conference program featured a mix of keynote speakers, workshops, and over 200 concurrent sessions covering topics such as rural workforce development, education and training, aged care, community collaboration and co-design, First Nations health, and digital health. The exhibition hall was frequented by attendees, featuring over 80 exhibitors and poster presentations. A noteworthy highlight was the Eye and Vision Health in Rural Australia fact sheet found at the National Rural Health Alliance exhibition stand, which was recently developed by the Alliance in collaboration with Optometry Australia and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO). This resource aims to inform and guide efforts to improve eye health in rural regions.

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An update on the National Health Workforce Dataset revealed an overall increase in the number of health professionals from 2017 to 2024, yet it also pointed to persistent discrepancies in workforce distribution with a gradual decline in workforce rates from major city areas to more remote areas. The Hon Emma McBride, Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, emphasised the importance of place-based multidisciplinary models of care during her address. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making healthcare more affordable for rural residents, as well as dedicated strategies to improve access including the recent Scope of Practice review.

In a focused session on eye health, Dr. Kristin Bell and Dr. Joshua Taylor introduced RANZCO’s Regionally Enhanced Training Network (RETN), a nationwide initiative launched in 2023 aimed at enhancing training opportunities for ophthalmology trainees in regional and remote areas.

I had the opportunity to present on behalf of Jessica Rae, Khyber Alam, and the Western NSW Eye Health Partnership on the development of a Strategic Outcomes Roadmap. The Partnership brings together 25 partners including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, local eye care providers, government, and not-for-profit organisations, drawing on local knowledge and collaboration to develop culturally responsive pathways to eye health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As the conference wrapped up, excitement began to build for the 18th National Rural Health Conference, set to take place from September 14^th to 17^th 2026, at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Attendees left Perth inspired and equipped with new insights to address the challenges of rural health in Australia.

Interested in knowing more?

• Optometry Australia worked with the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) to develop an updated Eye and Vision Health in Rural Australia fact sheet. Read more here.
• Delegates of the 17^th National Rural Health Conference were invited to let politicians know that Australia needs improved rural health care and ensure that every person, regardless of their location and postcode, has access to the quality care they deserve. Click here for more details and to get involved.
• In October 2024, OQNT launched the inaugural OQNT Rural Student Placement Scholarship, to support local optometry students to undertake a rural placement opportunity in either Queensland or the Northern Territory.