About Rural and Regional Health Australia

On 4 November 2011, Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Regional Australia, the Hon Simon Crean MP, Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott MP and Member for New England Tony Windsor MP, jointly announced that Rural and Regional Health Australia (RRHA) has been established in the Department of Health and Ageing.

RRHA provides a central entry point on information about Commonwealth regional health and ageing programs for people living in regional Australia, as well as internal advocacy within Government on funding equity.

RRHA has three contact points for rural and regional health consumers and providers:

• www.ruralhealthaustralia.gov.au
• our call centre 1800 899 538 (toll free)
• our email service infoRRHA@ruralhealthaustralia.gov.au

This website provides details of existing and forthcoming Government programs and initiatives aimed at improving health services in regional, rural and remote Australia. Its interactive map shows health services in specific locations in all state and territories and it will be upgraded over time to hold more place-based health information. In the same way more resources will be added to the website as it develops, making it a valuable tool both for the rural population and for health professionals.

RRHA will have a strong senior advocacy and engagement role across Government that will ensure a whole-of-government approach to tackling regional, rural and remote health issues. The agency will also ensure high level input to budget and policy development across Government on key regional, rural and remote health and ageing funding issues.

An internal RRHA Board has been established to oversee the operations of the new agency and consider current and emerging rural/regional health concerns. A Departmental Deputy Secretary is Head of RRHA and Chair of the RRHA Board. Membership of the RRHA Board currently consists of senior executives of the Department.