Media Release
13 October 2008
Bumper interest shows Cairns the place to be in ’09
Over 400 abstracts have been received for the presentation of papers, posters and workshops at next year’s 10
th National Rural Health Conference in Cairns.
The number reflects the high level of national interest in the health of the people of rural and remote Australia.
The papers have come from all parts of Australia from people with a wide range of backgrounds – as consumers, managers, practitioners and researchers. Each one provides a different perspective on health outcomes and the health services available – including the way they are delivered and their current availability in rural and remote areas.
As part of its ongoing commitment to the Closing the Gap campaign, and as with previous National Rural Health Conferences, the conference committee will give special consideration to papers submitted by Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. First-time presenters will also get special support at the conference.
“It’s hard to tell whether the extraordinarily high level of interest is due to the poor state of health in the bush, or to the major opportunities for strategic reform that are now beginning to open up in rural and remote areas,” said Conference Convenor Owen Allen.
Either way, following their assessment by an independent panel, about 120 of those who submitted abstracts will gain a spot on the busy four-day conference program, which starts on 17 May 2009 at the Cairns Convention Centre.
“We are considering ways to ensure that those whose abstracts narrowly miss out can remain involved in the Conference,” said Mr Allen.
Themes for the conference in Cairns are:
•
overcoming Indigenous and non-Indigenous disadvantage by achieving greater health equity between country and city
•
constructing a resilient response to both political and environmental climates
• demanding community consultation on health issues
•
collaborating to make health programs ‘fit for service’ and
•
celebrating the successes and failures of 20 years in rural and remote health.
“Even with the program yet to be finalised, it promises to become a rural health showcase for the nation,” Mr Allen said.
Further contact
Lyn Eiszele – Conference Manager: (02) 6285 4660
Marshall Wilson – Media: 0419 664 155
www.ruralhealth.org.au
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
You must log in to post a comment.