Delivering Care in Rural and Remote Areas

Australia’s unique geography can present a number of challenges around our ability to provide effective health and social care support in remote communities.

Almost 30% of Australians live outside major cities, with almost 2% of the population living in rural and remote areas. According to a report by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, or RFDS, individuals living in isolated locations are more likely than their metropolitan counterparts to experience poor healthcare accessibility, workforce shortages, and an increased risk of illness and disease. These factors make overcoming barriers to care a priority for health and social care providers.

Challenges facing rural and remote settings

People living in rural and remote communities can experience a number of obstacles when accessing appropriate health and social care services:

1: Geographical barriers

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world with vast stretches of land that are sparsely populated. For individuals living in rural and remote communities, accessing care and support, such as Supported Individual Living (SIL) support, mental health services, and disability assistance, can often mean long travel times to the nearest provider. In some instances, individuals may need to travel hundreds of miles just to access the service they need.

2: Workforce shortages

One of the most pressing issues facing rural and remote areas is staffing shortages. Workforce issues were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and continue today. Research by the RFDS indicates that, by 2028, rural and remote settings will only have one twelfth of the number of physiotherapists required and only a third of the psychologists needed to ensure adequate care and support for those living in geographically-isolated communities.

Services based in rural and remote areas can sometimes struggle to recruit and retain staff in health and social care. Practitioners may be unwilling to relocate due to lifestyle preferences, infrastructure constraints, and limited career development opportunities. This can lead to frequent staff shortages and high turnover rates, both of which can adversely impact the quality of care provided.

3: Cultural considerations

Around 32% of the rural and remote population in Australia is Indigenous, including people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait origin. Often, Indigenous people can face both cultural and language barriers when trying to access the right care, and, as a result, may experience poorer physical and mental health outcomes. In fact, there is a 14-year life expectancy difference between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in rural and remote settings, highlighting the importance of appropriate care and support for all communities.

4: Socio-economic factors

Many rural and remote communities face higher rates of socio-economic deprivation which can lead to poorer health outcomes. Against a backdrop of low-quality housing, high rates of unemployment, and limited access to primary healthcare, there may be a higher-than-average need for care and support in isolated areas.