The Australian Medical Association's (AMA) 2025 Rural Health Issues Survey Report is a timely reminder of the deepening healthcare crisis in rural, regional and remote Australia and the urgent need for political action to ensure health equity.
The report reaffirms long-standing NRHA concerns about critical shortages in healthcare professionals, inadequate facilities, lack of essential equipment, and limited access to allied and ancillary health services across rural Australia.
"The AMA's findings mirror what communities and clinicians in the bush have been telling us for years," said NRHA Chief Executive Susi Tegen. "This report must serve as a wake-up call for all political candidates ahead of the Federal election that rural health cannot be sidelined any longer."
NRHA endorses key AMA recommendations, including the establishment of a National Rural Health Workforce Strategy and a national health workforce planning agency.
"We support these proposals and stress the need for them to be delivered under an overarching National Rural Health Strategy that coordinates Commonwealth, State and Territory health and infrastructure investment and service delivery across rural Australia to reach parity and equity," Ms Tegen said.
NRHA also applauds AMA's calls for an additional 500 training rotations through the John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program and 500 more Australian General Practice Training places. This needs also to be expanded to all rural health professionals.
"Doctors who train rurally are far more likely to stay in the regions," Ms Tegen said. "These expanded training opportunities are critical to strengthening the pipeline of rural health professionals. We are concerned about the rising levels of burnout among rural doctors, and health clinicians with many leaving or scaling back their practices due to overwhelming demands, lack of support, and expectations compared to the city.
"It is imperative that government workforce incentives be expanded to enable rural general practices to employ nurses and allied health professionals as part of multidisciplinary teams. This is not a luxury. It is essential for sustainability in rural healthcare delivery. Why is it that in Australia, we still do not believe that rural Australians should be funded equitably with the city?
The AMA's 2025 report confirms what we have long known: rural health is in crisis. Without bold and immediate action, the gap in health outcomes between city and rural Australians will continue to grow. NRHA is calling on all political parties and candidates heading into the election to heed the rural voices, value their contribution to our economy and support the NRHA and the AMA asks and commit to meaningful action for rural health as part of their election platforms.
"We remain committed to working with any elected government and all stakeholders to deliver real, lasting change, and above all, parity for the health and wellbeing of rural Australians," Ms Tegen said.
About us:
The National Rural Health Alliance (the Alliance) comprises 54 national organisations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the over 7 million people in rural and remote Australia. Our diverse membership includes representation from health professional organisations, health service providers, health educators, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector and students.
