Abstract
An available and effective rural mental health workforce is critical to the provision of contemporary mental health care. Duringthe last 5years new mental health plans and strategies have been released every state and territory of Australia. This policy analysis examines the extent to which workforce, and particularly rural workforce issues are considered in these policies. The analysis revealed that rural workforce issues receive scant attention in state and territory mental health plans. Rural Australians comprise 28% of the total population, yet rural workforce issues are canvased, on average only6% of the time generalworkforce issues are addressed. National mental health workforce plans do focus on the rural workforce, but these arenot referenced in the state or territory strategies or workforce plans. Given the rural mental health workforce shortages, and consumer challenges inaccessing rural mental health services, more planning and consideration to supporting and developing a rural workforce appears warranted.
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