Additional service barriers in rural and remote areas include a lack of medical equipment, or delays in obtaining appropriate equipment, and unreliable electricity and power issues. Another consideration for some rural and remote residents is the location of their nearest pharmacy, which is often far compared to those in urban areas. Medicare, pharmaceutical and allied health services are underused in rural and remote areas. Lack of access to health and service professionals contributes to poorer health outcomes. ![]() Accessing after hours care can be especially problematic. Inadequate access to, and availability of, appropriate services is a barrier to receiving care and support for many rural and remote Australians and these access issues increase with remoteness. Rural and remote Australians often feel disconnected from health and human service systems. Specific support for farmers and farming families is available. The Australian Government provides information for payments and services for regional, rural or remote Australians. ![]() A significant proportion of people experiencing homelessness are in regional, rural and remote Australia, where there are fewer services available to assist these individuals to resolve the issues leading to their homelessness. These factors can affect mental health and well-being. Some challenges, including fewer job and education opportunities, and the effects of living and working in isolation are experienced in greater numbers by people living in rural and remote regions. People living in these areas are known for being down-to-earth, practical and resilient, but also often face barriers due to not living in metropolitan areas. Living in rural or remote Australia can be both rewarding and challenging. Other groups, including older people and those who identify as LGBTI, may feel discriminated against, and feel as though there is a lack of specialised services. People from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds experience increased socioeconomic disadvantage and have limited access to culturally appropriate services. Financial hardship due to natural disasters or climate change may also affect residents. There is lower access to employment, education and income in rural and remote areas. Rural and remote communities in Australia generally exhibit lower socioeconomic status compared to cities. Social disadvantage increases with remoteness. There are higher proportions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians living in rural and remote regions than metropolitan areas, and these individuals have poorer health on most measures compared to non-Indigenous people. The National Rural Health Alliance has factsheets on a variety of issues relating to health in rural and remote areas. People in rural or remote locations experience pressures and causes of stress and illness not experienced by their metropolitan counterparts. Behaviours associated with poorer health, including tobacco smoking and excessive alcohol consumption is higher in rural and remote areas than in metropolitan areas. Risk of suicide and self-harm is much higher (especially for males) in rural and remote areas. People in rural and remote areas often have lower life expectancy, worse outcomes on health indicators, more long-term health conditions, injuries, disease risk factors, occupational accidents and injury, and poorer access to care compared to people in major cities. Rural health inequities Illness and disease risk The term ‘rural and remote Australia’ represents areas outside Australian major cities and includes inner and outer regional areas, remote or very remote areas. Another half a million people live in remote regions of the country. ![]() In Australia, approximately one third of the population (around 7 million people) live in rural areas. Service Resources and Technology Reports.Getting started with the Digital Dashboard.Supporting older adults with disability funding.Personal Knowledge Map - New to Palliative Care.Personal Knowledge Map Experienced Clinicians.Managing Disputes about Medical Treatment Decision-Making.Legal Protection for Administering Pain and Symptom Relief.Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Medical Treatment.Capacity and Consent to Medical Treatment. ![]()
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