UDRH Activities

Monash University School of Rural Health, Victoria

The first rural health academic unit of its kind in Australia, the Monash University School of Rural Health was established in 1992. With its vision of improving rural health, the School has contributed over several years to policy and practice, the development of partnerships and networks, and education and research. The School has implemented a series of initiatives which substantially increase medical student exposure to rural health and rural practice, and similar initiatives are being implemented in undergraduate pharmacy, nutrition and dietetics, and nursing courses. In addition, an undergraduate program in rural nursing is offered. The School also contributes to postgraduate education and training, including general practice training programs, multidisciplinary education for rural health practitioners, and Graduate Diploma and Masters of Rural Health Courses. The School’s research program makes a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in rural health through research training, scholarships, postgraduate research, and publications.

Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, Whyalla, incorporating the South Australian Centre for Rural and Remote Health

The Spencer Gulf Rural Health School (SGRHS) is a joint venture between Adelaide University and the University of South Australia. The SGRHS incorporates the SA Centre for Rural and Remote Health (SACRRH) and the Adelaide University Rural Clinical School (AURCS). The School provides education and training of students studying the health sciences, undertakes consultancy and research, and facilitates clinical services delivery. The SGRHS is based in Whyalla, South Australia, which is a regional centre of some 23,000 people situated on the north west coast of the Spencer Gulf. The School operates through two main sites in Whyalla: the Whyalla campus of the University of South Australia, and the Whyalla Hospital and Health Service. The School also supports a number of learning centres throughout the region, based at Port Augusta, Booleroo Centre, Port Pirie, Minlaton, Maitland, Port Lincoln, and Ceduna.

University of Sydney Department of Rural Health, Broken Hill

The Broken Hill Department of Rural Health was established in 1997 and is located within the School of Rural Health, in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney. The Department has three academic streams, Clinical Medicine, Primary Health Care and Research and Development, that deliver a rural attachment program for medical and health science students and provide training for Aboriginal health workers, research training for general practitioners and primary health care workers, and other professional development and support for local health professionals in far western NSW. The Department also contributes to developments in preventive and population health and the formulation of innovative service delivery models in remote NSW. To promote research in the region, the Department supports a network of active researchers in western NSW and has established research collaborations with local service provider organisations, within the School of Rural Health and with other research teams.

Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health

The Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health (MICRRH) has introduced many new initiatives towards improving health in North West Queensland. The Centre takes a lead role in education, training and research with a focus on rural and remote health issues, Indigenous health, and population health. From 2004, James Cook University (JCU) students in their final two years of medicine or final year of pharmacy will be able to complete their course based in Mount Isa. The Centre teaches the JCU Bachelor of Nursing Sciences, provides Indigenous Health Worker training, and facilitates the Cairns TAFE Enrolled Nursing course. In addition, the Centre facilitates student placements, in all health disciplines, in some of Australia’s most remote communities. Continuing education programs are coordinated for medical and nursing staff, in particular Junior House Officer education and training. The MICRRH also provides activities under the Primary Health Care, Research, Evaluation and Development Program, and undertakes research addressing the Centre’s areas of focus.

University Department of Rural Health, Tasmania

The University Department of Rural Health, Tasmania, was established in 1997 and covers the whole state. The Department has established strong collaborative partnerships and strategic alliances with the Schools in the Faculty of Health Science, State and Commonwealth departments of health, health professional organisations and associations, local government, divisions of general practice, and rural communities. These partnerships underpin Departmental activities through ten Rural Health Teaching Sites, which provide a base for education, training, and locally based research and evaluation. The Department works with the health industry to support the rural health professional workforce on a multidisciplinary basis, and liaises with education and training providers to provide access to interprofessional clinical experiences and to accredited flexible learning courses in eHealth, Midwifery Development, Medication Management, and Health Services Management. The Department has an integrated infrastructure with the new North West Rural Clinical School; and focuses on building research capacity among rural health professionals, and developing a strong rural health research culture.

University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health, Shepparton

The University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health in Shepparton has a strong focus on research and education. Research has focused on evaluating local health and Koori programs, participatory research with groups of rural consumers, clinical research and a large household survey of health issues in the rural population in northern Victoria. A range of community development and capacity building projects have assisted local health organisations in recruitment, retention, training and support, including attracting resources to local Koori communities and working with local government to develop a public health plan. The Department of Rural Health has also played a major role in education by establishing a strong, multi-degree postgraduate program, providing education for health professionals and becoming part of the medical and allied health curricula.

Centre for Remote Health, Northern Territory

The Centre for Remote Health is a joint venture of Flinders University and the Northern Territory University. Located in Alice Springs, with a satellite campus in Katherine, the Centre's catchment area is Territory-wide and includes cross border areas in South Australia and Western Australia. The Centre offers a multidisciplinary Remote Health Practice Program and a Remote Health Management Program, with courses at Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Masters levels. These courses meet the need for preparatory and higher education for health professionals and health managers who work in remote areas. An undergraduate medical student placement program (the Out of Alice program), and an undergraduate nursing program are also offered. Research is undertaken in a range of priority areas, notably Aboriginal health, incorporating a primary health care and community development approach. Key research programs include injury prevention, evaluation of best practice guidelines, child nutrition and health service planning.

Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, Western Australia

CUCRH is a collaboration between the University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, and Curtin University of Technology, and is located in Geraldton in the Midwest region of Western Australia with a satellite office in Port Hedland. CUCRH seeks to improve the health of rural and remote communities in the Midwest, Murchison, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia, through building intellectual infrastructure in regional Western Australia. Our teaching and learning program is vertically integrated and multidisciplinary. This program encourages young country people to pursue health careers, creates opportunities for undergraduates in health sciences to learn more about rural health, and facilitates postgraduate students and academics to undertake research on rural and remote health priorities. Enhancing Aboriginal health is an important part of CUCRH’s education and research work, and this is done in partnership with Aboriginal controlled organisations and health services.

Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Warrnambool, Victoria, and Mt Gambier, SA

The Greater Green Triangle UDRH, established in 2001, brings together major academic institutions, management agencies, and health sector groups in a venture to promote “Greater Health” in the region. The Department will undertake an integrated program of research and development, education and training to provide information for improved management, decision-making, and professional development. The Department’s Research and Development, and Education and Training programs will be driven by the contemporary health issues facing the people of the Greater Green Triangle. A three-way partnership between Flinders University, Deakin University and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing will ensure practical outcomes and long-term benefits.

Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health, Lismore

The Northern Rivers University Department of Rural He2alth (NRUDRH) is based in Lismore and covers the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. The NRUDRH is part of the Faculty of Medicine of The University of Sydney and is managed in collaboration with Southern Cross University. As a new Department, the NRUDRH is in the process of establishing high quality educational and research facilities that will enable medical and other health students to undertake significant periods of their training in the Northern Rivers region. Planning is well underway for a purpose built building adjacent to Lismore Base Hospital and for an educational facility in Murwillumbah. The UDRH also has a very active research arm, which includes a number of key researchers with significant track records in health systems, environmental health and community-based research.

Northern NSW University Department of Rural Health, Tamworth

The Northern NSW UDRH was established in Tamworth in 2001. In its first full year it implemented full year programs in Occupational Therapy and Medicine from the University of Newcastle. In 2003 students from Medical Radiation Science and Dietetics will join the program. In 2003 there is a cohort of six undergraduate students who will be the first Australian medical students to complete all of their clinical training in the rural sector. In 2003, the UDRH established four new accredited advanced medical training posts in Paediatrics, Pathology, Rehabilitation, and Public Health Medicine. The UDRH has been instrumental in reversing a trend where in 2001, 15 specialist doctors left Tamworth, to an environment where the numbers of medical staff and associated services is now growing rapidly. The UDRH has achieved these objectives because of its strategic partnerships with the New England Area Health Service, the University of New England and the community.