Rural and Remote

The Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network was established in 2012 to provide an opportunity for clinicians and network members to engage in planning and priority setting, and to guide the effective and safe delivery of rural and remote healthcare services. They provide advice to the Minister, Department of Health and Hospital and Health Services on the issues around the delivery of rural and remote healthcare.

The Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network provides a platform for clinicians to collaborate and strategically plan innovative approaches to service delivery that is underpinned by a commitment to deliver safe, quality and culturally appropriate care to rural and remote communities. The network is comprised of more than 300 members from across Queensland Health, Primary Health Networks, universities, training providers, associations, colleges, and not-for-profit and private organisations. Representation consists of multidisciplinary expertise across various levels of healthcare delivery including frontline clinicians and leaders.

The Chair of the Rural and Remote Network is Dr Anthony Brown, Executive Director of Medical Services, Thursday Island (Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service). The Deputy Chair is Dr Konrad Kangru, General Practitioner, Whitsunday Doctors Service.

The role of the network

The Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network was established to provide leadership and clinical expertise with respect to rural and remote health services.

The network brings together clinicians, consumers and stakeholders from across the primary, community and acute care sectors to:

  • Provide leadership and clinical expertise to drive system wide best practice through the identification, adoption and promotion of evidence-based best practices and clinical policy.
  • Share and support the implementation and replication of best practice approaches across the health system.
  • Advocate for evidence-based clinical policy in matters related to the provision of rural and remote health services.
  • Provide advice to Hospital and Health Services and Queensland Health on clinical quality and the safety implications of policy, planning and funding decisions.

Current priorities

  1. Confront the challenges of delivering healthcare to Queensland’s uniquely placed rural and remote residents.
  2. Contribute to and lead strategic and professional discussions relating to key rural workforce initiatives.
  3. Prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare across Queensland and seek to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes which align with the Queensland Government's Making Tracks toward closing the gap in health outcomes for Indigenous Queenslanders by 2033 policy and accountability framework.
  4. Recognise the role of and strengthen partnerships with private organisations and universities to promote and deliver cohesive and coherent care across Queensland and identify opportunities for collaborative models of care and workforce initiatives.
  5. Provide oversight and governance for the Imminent Birth Standardisation Guideline and Checklist project.
  6. Improve collaboration with other Queensland Clinical Networks and other internal and external stakeholders, including Primary Care.
  7. Establish and maintain a partnership with the Office of Rural and Remote Health (ORRH).
  8. Provide advocacy and leadership to promote greater consistency and integration in service and workforce planning for rural and remote services.

Current Projects

  • Imminent Birth Equipment Standardisation project. This project aims to develop a standardised, evidence based list of equipment, consumables and resources required to manage imminent birth in non-birthing facilities.

For more information: QldRuralNetwork@health.qld.gov.au

Forums

The Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network holds regular forums which provide an opportunity for all Network members to come together to share ideas about how healthcare can be improved for rural and remote Queenslanders.

For more information: QldRuralNetwork@health.qld.gov.au

Clinician Resources

Related links

Contact us

Email: QldRuralNetwork@health.qld.gov.au
Phone: +61 7 3328 91756
Postal Address: GPO Box 48, Brisbane 4001

Last updated: 12 July 2023