Report from The Chair

Welcome to ‘A New Frontier!’ I am so, so excited for you to read this amazing compilation of articles, artworks and photos from those passionate about rural health from across Australia.

‘A New Frontier’ addresses a new chapter for all of us, within our communities, nation, planet and healthcare system.

The year of 2020 threw things out of balance — I’ll use the cliche ‘unprecedented’ to describe the situation it placed us all in. There were particularly damaging effects on rural Australia, for in our fight against location determining health, 2020 made our addresses a determinant of so much more. There was the difficulty of those in border towns struggling to access maternity services across state lines and rural medical students trapped away from their friends and family to keep their new communities safe. All of these measures to protect the ‘safe-haven’ that rural Australia was believed to be, and yet, there was still so much anxiety that came with ‘what if.’

What if this community did have an outbreak? How would we manage? Jasmine Elliott, Chair of AMSA Rural Health

The workforce was stretched further when inter- and intrastate travel was halted; locums were less accessible, and training rotations were frozen for medical students and vocational trainees. We saw medical students being hired as assistants in rural communities, unsure of whether this was related to COVID-19, or the more insidious shortages that exist in the peripheries. We saw difficulties accessing PPE and groceries, and the diminishment of human connection.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom though, as the accelerated adoption of telehealth meant these more accessible consultations became part of our ‘new normal’. This moment also marks a new chapter in the life-cycle of this publication. Frontier! has now moved solely online, and is being helmed by our amazing Publications Officers, Sarah and Irene, along with a talented subcommittee of editors and designers. As for the broader Rural Health Committee, I’m excited by the passion our team is bringing, implementing fresh projects in new ways, and rethinking how we undertake design, engagement and advocacy. This year also marks the first ‘bi-state’ Rural Health Summit, taking place in Queensland and Victoria under the amazing leadership of Stephanie and Mara.

We might know ‘New Frontier’ as a Star Trek series, but Wikipedia tells me the phrase was first famously coined by John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech:

“We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier— the frontier of the 1960s, the frontier of unknown opportunities and perils, the frontier of unfilled hopes and unfilled threats. ...Beyond that frontier are uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered problems of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus. ... I’m asking each of you to be pioneers towards that New Frontier. My call is to the young in heart, regardless of age. ... All mankind waits upon our decision. A whole world waits to see what we shall do. And we cannot fail that trust, and we cannot fail to try”

I look forward to working with you — whatever your background or future aspirations — to shape this new frontier of healthcare and life in general. To make it a Frontier! that addresses the healthcare needs of all Australians, regardless of postcode.

If this magazine sparks a fire in you, or if you just generally have questions or suggestions about how AMSA Rural Health can represent, connect or inform you, please get in touch! We have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and can also be emailed at rural@ amsa.org.au.