Annual Report - Outcome 6: Rural Health > Part 2 Performance Information

Programs Specific to Rural Health

Rural health activities are implemented across several other outcomes. The following table lists these activities by outcome. The key rural health initiatives are highlighted in this chapter to provide a comprehensive view of activities assisting people in rural and remote Australia across the portfolio.

Outcome	Rural Health Activity
Outcome 2	Visiting Optometrist Scheme Rural Pharmacy Allowance and Support Program Rural and Remote Pharmacy Workforce Development Program – Scholarship
Outcome 4	Multi Purpose Services Program Rural and Regional Building Fund (and Viability Supplement) Aged Care Adjustment Grants for Small Rural Facilities* Australian Government Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Program
Outcome 5	Additional Practice Nurses in Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need – Medicare Items Additional Practice Nurses in Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need – Practice Incentives Program Loading Practice Incentives Program Rural and Remote General Practice Program Training for Rural and Remote Procedural GPs Program Rural Locum Relief Program Rural Women's GP Service Rural Retention Program More Allied Health Services Program* HECS Reimbursement Scheme* Rural Registrars Incentives Payments Scheme* 50 GP Training Places* Workforce Support for Rural General Practitioners*
Outcome 6	Multi Purpose Centre Program Royal Flying Doctor Service Regional Health Services Sub Program* Rural Primary Health Sub Program* Rural Private Access Program* Medical Specialists Outreach Support Program*
Outcome 10	Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Additional Practice Nurses in Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need – Training and Support Rural Clinical Schools* University Departments of Rural Health* Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarship* Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships* Rural Palliative Care Mentoring for Regional Cancer Services Rural Undergraduate Support and Coordination Program Rural Health Support, Education and Training Program Advanced Specialist Training Posts in Rural Areas Rural Advanced Specialist Training Support Support Scheme for Rural Specialists*

Outcome

Rural Health Activity

Outcome 2

Visiting Optometrist Scheme

Rural Pharmacy Allowance and Support Program

Rural and Remote Pharmacy Workforce Development Program
– Scholarship

Outcome 4

Multi Purpose Services Program

Rural and Regional Building Fund (and Viability Supplement)

Aged Care Adjustment Grants for Small Rural Facilities*

Australian Government Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Program

Outcome 5

Additional Practice Nurses in Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need – Medicare Items

Additional Practice Nurses in Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need – Practice Incentives Program Loading

Practice Incentives Program

Rural and Remote General Practice Program

Training for Rural and Remote Procedural GPs Program

Rural Locum Relief Program

Rural Women's GP Service

Rural Retention Program

More Allied Health Services Program*

HECS Reimbursement Scheme*

Rural Registrars Incentives Payments Scheme*

50 GP Training Places*

Workforce Support for Rural General Practitioners*

Outcome 6

Multi Purpose Centre Program

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Regional Health Services Sub Program*

Rural Primary Health Sub Program*

Rural Private Access Program*

Medical Specialists Outreach Support Program*

Outcome 10

Supporting Women in Rural Areas Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Additional Practice Nurses in Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need – Training and Support

Rural Clinical Schools*

University Departments of Rural Health*

Rural Australia Medical Undergraduate Scholarship*

Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships*

Rural Palliative Care

Mentoring for Regional Cancer Services

Rural Undergraduate Support and Coordination Program

Rural Health Support, Education and Training Program

Advanced Specialist Training Posts in Rural Areas

Rural Advanced Specialist Training Support

Support Scheme for Rural Specialists*

*Part of the Rural Health Strategy.
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Performance Information for Administered Items

Administered Funding – Rural Health Programs :

Rural Health Services.

Indicator	Measured by	Reference Point or Target
Provision of ongoing primary health services in rural and remote areas.	Services established and maintained to improve access.	Existing Regional Health Services are maintained; additional remote services are developed.
Indicator met.	120 existing services were maintained in 2006–07, with new auspice arrangements established for 2 services to ensure their continued viability. 1 new Regional Health Service was established in the Northern Territory. The Department continued to fund the Royal Flying Doctor Service to provide emergency aero-medical evacuations, primary health care services, telehealth consultations and medical chests to rural and remote communities. The Department also provided funding towards the purchase of an aircraft by the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section for the delivery of aero-medical services. This will ensure improved access for people in rural and remote communities to vital aero-medical and health services.
Establishment of time-limited preventive health initiatives.	Projects established to improve access to preventative health activities.	Existing preventative health initiatives are maintained; additional remote initiatives are developed.
Indicator met.	31 existing Building Healthy Communities projects were maintained. 11 new national projects were developed.
Improved access to specialist and privately insurable health services for rural and remote communities.	Services/projects established and maintained to improve access.	Existing specialist outreach and privately insurable health services are maintained and additional services and projects are developed.
Indicator met.	Nationally, more than 1,375 outreach services were provided to rural and remote communities under the Medical Specialists Outreach Assistance Program, which is an increase of 305 services over 2005–06. 156 projects were approved for funding under the third and fourth funding rounds of the Rural Private Access Program.

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Performance Information for Departmental Outputs

Output Group 1. Policy Advice , including:

Rural Health Services; and
2006–07 Budget measures.

Indicator	Measured by	Reference Point or Target
Quality, relevant and timely advice for Government decision-making.	Ministerial satisfaction.	Maintain or increase from previous year.
Indicator met.	Ministers were satisfied with the quality, relevance and timeliness of advice provided for Government decision-making.
Relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.	Production of relevant and timely evidence-based policy research.	Relevant evidence-based policy research produced in a timely manner.
Indicator met.	Subsequent to the national review of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, extensive financial modelling was undertaken on the business costs, services and activities of the organisation in order to develop future funding arrangements. The financial modelling undertaken informed the timely development of funding options to significantly improve the future funding of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Department engaged the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to continue its work on the Rural Health Information Project. Under this project, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare provides the Department with comprehensive reports of data relevant to the health and wellbeing of people living in rural and remote areas. In 2006–07, the Department commenced preparation of a plan for future policy research in rural health in consultation with key stakeholders.

Top of pageOutput Group 2. Program Management , including:

financial management and reporting;
development and management of grants and contracts; and
administration and revision of legislation as required.

Indicator	Measured by	Reference Point or Target
Administered budget predictions are met and actual expenses vary less than 0.5% from budgeted expenses.	Percentage that actual expenses vary from budgeted expenses.	0.5% variance from budgeted expenses.
Indicator met.	Actual expenses varied from budgeted expenses by less than 0.1%.
Stakeholders to participate in program development.	Opportunities for stakeholder participation through a range of avenues, such as surveys, conferences and meetings.	Stakeholders participated in program development.
Indicator met.	Consultations and meetings with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the States and Northern Territory governments contributed to the development of new funding arrangements for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Department holds regular meetings with key rural stakeholders including the National Rural Health Alliance and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia. These meetings provide the Department with an opportunity to hear and respond to stakeholder concerns, particularly as they relate to program administration and development. The Department funded the National Rural Health Alliance to hold the 9th National Rural Health Conference in March 2007, which provided a valuable opportunity for the Department to receive feedback from interested groups on the implementation and impact of programs and policies.

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Performance Improvement Initiatives

Initiative:	Better Management of Rural Health Programs
Aim:	The Better Management of Rural Health Programs Initiative aims to increase the flexibility of health service delivery to communities with populations of less than 7,000 people. The Council of Australian Governments agreed that the Commonwealth, and State and Northern Territory governments would each consolidate funding for their respective, nominated rural health service delivery programs. This separately consolidated funding will be provided to local auspicing bodies, which will have the flexibility to purchase those health services most needed by the community, as determined by agreed planning processes. The initiative recognises that a more flexible approach in matching local needs with a consolidated funding base may reduce fragmentation, duplication and administrative burden, and maximise the use of existing infrastructure and workforce.
Outcome:	The Department completed initial planning for this initiative, which has a four year timeframe for implementation, and a proposed approach to implementation has been developed for consideration by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council.

Initiative:

Better Management of Rural Health Programs

Aim:

The Better Management of Rural Health Programs Initiative aims to increase the flexibility of health service delivery to communities with populations of less than 7,000 people.

The Council of Australian Governments agreed that the Commonwealth, and State and Northern Territory governments would each consolidate funding for their respective, nominated rural health service delivery programs. This separately consolidated funding will be provided to local auspicing bodies, which will have the flexibility to purchase those health services most needed by the community, as determined by agreed planning processes.

The initiative recognises that a more flexible approach in matching local needs with a consolidated funding base may reduce fragmentation, duplication and administrative burden, and maximise the use of existing infrastructure and workforce.

Outcome:

The Department completed initial planning for this initiative, which has a four year timeframe for implementation, and a proposed approach to implementation has been developed for consideration by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council.

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Performance Assessment: Evaluations

Evaluation:	Evaluation Framework for the Rural Health Strategy
Timeframe:	Work commenced on the development of a review framework in 2006. As a result of changes to the Government review framework, the review was not implemented in 2006–07. The timing of reviews is decided by Government.
Related Performance Target/ Key Strategic Direction:	The Rural Health Strategy is a key component of the Government's Rural Health Programs (see the above Performance Information for Outcome 6).