Darwin to Host Rural Health Conference

Darwin will host the 13^th National Rural Health Conference next month with thanks to Australia’s most famous rural health provider, the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
“The RFDS has been servicing the top end for decades”, says Martin Laverty, CEO of the RFDS Federation, “so it is only fitting that we assist to bring Australia’s best health professionals to Darwin to discuss rural health issues”
Registration is open to medical professionals and students to discuss issues around mental health, men’s health, disability, remote and telehealth, community and cultural management, professional training, and presentations from international guests from around the Pacific.
The National Rural Health Conference is the nation’s largest event for people who want to improve the health and wellbeing of those who live in rural, regional and remote Australia.
Recent research commissioned by the RFDS details that death rates in remote areas are thirty five percent higher than in cities, and life expectancy of country people is two years shorter than those in the city.
Country people see doctors half as often as city people, specialists a third as often, and mental health services a fifth as often.
The focus of the conference will be the presentation of a set of agreed policy recommendations to the Commonwealth Government on the final day.
Held from May 24-27 at Darwin Convention Centre the conference is currently open for registration. View the conference program at the website.