Rural health needs detailed
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The Federal Government has laid out its expectations for Australia's new National Rural Health Commissioner, Professor Jenny May AM.
Professor May will serve from 2 September 2024 to 30 June 2026, bringing extensive experience as a rural GP, educator, and health workforce expert.
She will be tasked with providing policy advice and advocating for reforms aimed at improving access to healthcare in rural, regional, and remote Australia.
Appointed by the Albanese Government, Professor May has worked for over 35 years in rural areas such as Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, and internationally in rural Canada.
She also serves as the Director of the University of Newcastle’s Department of Rural Health in Tamworth.
Known for her deep connection to rural communities, Professor May credits early exposure to rural practice during her medical training as a major influence on her career.
“I got an exposure to rural life as a student, and it turned out to be a very important and formative exposure,” she said.
Professor May will be responsible for continuing reforms in rural health, strengthening Medicare, and ensuring that Australians living outside major cities receive timely and appropriate care.
Her appointment follows the tenure of Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart, who served as Commissioner for the past four years.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, commended Professor Stewart’s contributions, saying; “On behalf of the Government I thank outgoing Commissioner Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart for her work to make sure the voices of rural, regional, and remote Australians were amplified”.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, has expressed confidence in Professor May's ability to drive forward necessary reforms.
“The Government is improving rural and remote healthcare by strengthening Medicare and boosting our health workforce,” she said.
The government says its bulk billing incentives, for instance, have seen a 3.4 per cent increase in rural and regional areas since last November.
As National Rural Health Commissioner, Professor May will focus on advocating for sustainable healthcare models that attract and retain health professionals in non-urban areas.
“One of my biggest jobs is to be a good listener," she said.
The government’s full statement of expectation is accessible here.