Rural health: Better together

Abstract

The 14th National Rural Health Conference in Cairns saw the convergence of rural health delegates from across Australia to share their experiences, challenges and successes in rural health. What is always remarkable is the almost tangible atmosphere of fraternity and collegiality among this diverse group. Also on display is the shared commitment to rural health and the collective strength of the rural health sector. It is a strong cohesive sector with a clear voice and the ear of decision makers. What more could we want? The conference developed seven priority recommendations. One of these recommendations relates to increasing the investment in research and evidence-based practice. It was heartening to see the presentation of so many innovative projects and programs. So much good research has already been published, and is currently being conducted, on models of care and rural health practice. Some of this work could serve as a foundation for large multi-site, multi-sector and multi-institution research projects. Our collective voice would be strengthened by increasing the number of collaborative rural health research projects. Research and practice proven in different locations and contexts has much greater generalisability, field validity and credibility. Further, it can draw on already existing partnerships, relationships and networks. There is an opportunity to use current networks and build on previous research to develop targeted national collaborative research projects. The 14th National Rural Health Conference produced five other priority recommendations relating to: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, a healthy start to life, digital health, arts in health and the health workforce. These recommendations provide some initial directions for developing agreed collaborative research priorities. The other conference priority recommendation is the development of a National Rural Health Strategy and an associated National Implementation Plan. Building the evidence base and enhancing research in rural health should be a key plank of this strategy and plan, and collaborative research should be prioritised. Multi-site, multi-organisation, multi-sector collaborative research further strengthens and focuses an already strong rural voice. It can provide data and findings with good field validity and generalisability across different settings and contexts. It could transform evidence-based practice research into ‘practice-based evidence’ translatable to the rural service context. The development of rural health research priorities could be supported by the Rural Health Commission and aligned to the research priorities in the National Rural Health Strategy. This would encourage major funding bodies to prioritise and incentivise collaborative rural health research. Research collaborations should involve partnerships between the research, clinical and service delivery sectors and consumers and carers. They should also extend across geographic and service boundaries. The rural sector already has a strong voice. We have a large population base and a powerful constituency. We have a collaborative sector with a shared commitment to rural health. We have the opportunity to strengthen our message based on solid national research. Let's support our rural health advocates by conducting quality, multi-site, collaborative research on the issues that matter and providing compelling evidence to inform and support our arguments. In rural health we excel at cooperation. Extending this to clinical and research groups, across organisational and geographical boundaries is our next challenge. We should aim to work together, focussing on a research agenda aligned with the 14th National Rural Health Conference priority recommendations and the priorities of our much-anticipated Rural Health Strategy. A strong, unified voice backed by strong national evidence. Better together.