Better health and ageing for all Australians

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Rural and remote health workers–better connected, better supported

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, today announced funding of $1.2 million to extend the Bush Crisis Line, a telephone counselling service that offers support to rural and remote health practitioners and their families.

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3 September 2002

Rural and remote health workers–better connected, better supported

The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, today announced funding of $1.2 million to extend the Bush Crisis Line, a telephone counselling service that offers support to rural and remote health practitioners and their families.

The Bush Crisis Line, a 24-hour freecall telephone service, is a personal support network which provides crisis debriefing and counselling for job related trauma among isolated rural and remote health practitioners and their families.

"The service has been operating since July 1999. In that time qualified psychologists have provided a 24-hour, seven-day on call service, taking more than 1,500 calls and providing more than 1,000 hours of counselling support, for remote area health practitioners and their families," Minister Patterson said.

"With the pressures that rural and remote practice place on health workers, their own health is usually the first area to be neglected. The Bush Crisis Line supports these health professionals in isolated areas to maintain their own, and their family's wellbeing."

This funding of $1.2 million over three years will be allocated to the Council of Remote Area Nurses Australia (CRANA), who operate the Bush Crisis Line. The increased level of funding will allow for the engagement of additional counselling staff and provide for the continued development and distribution of a range of support and education resources.

"The funding will enable the continuation of immediate support through the confidential 24-hour telephone counselling and debriefing service, assisting isolated area health practitioners and their families deal with difficult situations.

"The Bush Crisis Line is an excellent service for health practitioners and has become an essential resource for rural and remote health workers and their families," the Minister said.

Senator Patterson would like to also recognise the significant contribution CRANA and its members make in rural and remote communities, and for their dedication to improving the health and support of people living in isolated areas.

Media Contact: Marnie Gaffney, Senator Patterson's office
(02) 6277 7220
Ian Watt, Department of Health and Ageing (02) 6289 5442