Rural and remote communities in Australia face persistent and well-documented barriers to accessing timely, person-centred care. These challenges are driven not only by geography and workforce shortages but also by the misalignment of policy, program, and funding structures that have evolved over time without coherent integration. Despite repeated calls for reform, siloed service delivery models, excessive administrative burden, and inconsistent funding mechanisms continue to hamper health outcomes.
Enabling place-based solutions in rural and remote Australia requires more than local action and community empowerment. It requires alignment, integration and enablement in government policies and programs to effectively and efficiently deliver those community-led, place-based solutions.
This policy brief, informed by AHHA Ltd member and stakeholder input and a cross-sector roundtable, highlights the need for national leadership to shift from fragmented, input-focused systems to coordinated, outcome-driven approaches.