Published 3 July 2020, revised 7 September 2020
AHPA welcomes the announcement from Department of Health on the appointment of a new National Rural Health Commissioner. The Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner was recently extended and expanded, and Associate Professor Ruth Stewart has now been appointed as the new Commissioner. Associate Professor Stewart will take over the role from inaugural Commissioner, Professor Paul Worley and AHPA welcomes her to the role.
Access to allied health services continues to be significantly lower in rural and remote regions leading to poorer health outcomes. Following on from the publication of the Office’s report ‘Improvement of Access, Quality and Distribution of Allied Health Services in Regional, Rural and Remote Australia’, AHPA looks forward to continuing our relationship with the Office and to working with Associate Professor Stewart on the implementation of the strategies recommended in the report.
For more information about Associate Professor Stewart and details about changes to the Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner, you can read the Department of Health media release.