The ACT Government has partnered with the NSW and Australian Governments to deliver innovative healthcare in rural and regional communities in NSW.
The Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund, Rural Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure Fund has invested $30.6 million over the next five years to expand the network of clinical trial support units across regional and remote parts of NSW.
The ACT Health Directorate and Canberra Health Services will support the delivery of the program across the local health districts in the southern parts of NSW. Canberra Health Services is the host organisation for the Southern Cluster, with Professor Walter Abhayaratna announced as cluster lead.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the ACT Government looks forward to working in partnership with the NSW and Australian Governments to improve healthcare for rural communities.
“Expanding the delivery of clinical trials will enable our dedicated healthcare teams to share their expertise with rural and regional communities to foster innovative research and improve health outcomes,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“This program has clear benefits for patients in rural and regional communities but will also allow the ACT to contribute to important medical breakthroughs.”
The program will fund infrastructure initiatives and help address barriers to research in rural areas including geographic isolation, lack of clinical trial workforces, and clinical skills and capacity.
“Ensuring equitable access to healthcare is important to the ACT Government, and we’re pleased that our agencies and staff will be helping deliver the latest clinical developments, usually only available in metropolitan settings and sometimes with a significant travel cost, to rural communities,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“It is exciting for the ACT Health Directorate, Canberra Health Services and NSW Health to collaborate to bring clinical trials to the bush, and to a population who would otherwise miss out from cutting edge treatments that are potentially lifesaving,” said Southern Cluster lead Professor Walter Abhayaratna.
The program’s funding is part of the Australian Government’s Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Program: improving access to innovative healthcare in RRR NSW and ACT which seeks to support to support rural local health districts, Canberra Health Services, and many other partners.
