About the fund
The RHOF financially supports health professional who provide outreach services focussing on the following health priorities:
- maternity and paediatric health
- eye health
- mental health
- support for chronic disease management
The RHOF helps health professionals provide outreach services in rural and remote areas by covering travel, accommodation, backfilling and related expenses.
The RHOF is delivered in parallel with the Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program.
Why it is important
Around seven million people, or 28 percent of the Australian population, live and work in rural and remote areas (AIHW, 2024). Compared to people living in major cities, these Australians often have poorer access to healthcare leading to poorer health outcomes (AIHW, 2024).
The RHOF aims to improve access to healthcare by enabling health professionals, including specialists, to visit rural and remote communities.
Goals
The RHOF’s goal is to ensure Australians living in rural and remote communities can access medical services no matter where they live.
Reports
Who we work with
We fund one organisation for each state and the Northern Territory to plan, manage and deliver services that suit the needs of each region.
Learn more
Rural Health Outreach Fund – Service Delivery Standards (SDS)
These standards guide fundholders on their eligibility, responsibilities and the delivery of efficient and effective RHOF services.
Contact
To find out more, contact the organisation in your state or territory:
- NSW Rural Doctors Network
- Northern Territory Primary Health Network
- CheckUp Australia (Queensland)
- Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (South Australia)
- Tasmanian Department of Health
- Rural Workforce Agency Victoria
- Rural Health West (Western Australia)
To become a service provider under the RHOF program, contact the relevant jurisdictional fundholder on how to submit a service proposal for consideration.
