How we are caring for our regional, rural and remote communities |
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Acting Secretary's message |
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One in three people in our state live in regional, rural and remote NSW. In these close-knit communities, patients and staff often know each other by name, and the care we provide reflects the deep connections that define life in our towns and regions.
To ensure that these communities continue to thrive, it is essential that people have access to the health services they need. The NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan is our vision for a sustainable, equitable and integrated health system that delivers outcomes that matter most to patients in regional, rural and remote NSW.
Our hardworking and dedicated staff are at the heart of this journey. Showing up every day to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to high quality, timely healthcare, and excellent patient experiences. |
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The strength of our rural workforce and the personalised care they deliver was reflected in the results of the Bureau of Health Information's Rural Hospital Emergency Care Patient Survey, with 94 per cent of patients saying the care they received in small rural hospitals was ‘very good’ (73 per cent) or ‘good’ (21 per cent). Our healthcare professionals themselves, and the respect and kindness they showed to patients, were also rated very highly.
Technology also presents opportunities for regional communities – and healthcare professionals – to connect like never before, with innovative models of care. Virtual care a valuable complement to our face-to-face services, enabling people to access healthcare from home or our healthcare professionals to seek support from specialist colleagues elsewhere in NSW in an instant. This edition reflects the resilience, strength, dedication and flexibility of our highly-skilled staff and wonderful volunteers in regional, rural and remote areas who support and care for their communities in so many important ways every day. Thank you for all you do. |
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Kind regards, Matthew Daly
Acting Secretary, NSW Health
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In front of a packed stadium at a Newcastle Jets vs Melbourne Victory game, two NSW Health doctors, Kellie Taylor and Claudia Lawson, found themselves calling upon their training.
Dr Taylor is a gastroenterologist at Wyong Hospital at Central Coast Local Health District. She was watching the game as a spectator when she heard the screams of a family crying out for help. And she wasn’t alone. Dr Lawson, a team doctor for the Newcastle Jets Women’s team and a doctor for Hunter New England Local Health District, was covering the men’s team that day.
With thousands of people watching on, the game halted. Dr Taylor climbed rows of seats and Dr Lawson jumped the stadium fence. Together, they performed life-saving CPR on a young man having a cardiac arrest. |
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Dr Kellie Taylor, Dr Claudia Lawson and the young man |
| “It was a very unusual resuscitation,” said Dr Lawson.
“In a hospital you have equipment on hand and a team around you. We were in a very tricky position – surrounded by lots of people, with an unconscious young man laid out across a row of seats.”
With compressions started, a defibrillator was quickly brought to the scene by St John’s Ambulance staff. But after administering one shock, the young man's heart rhythm was further assessed as non-shockable. The two doctors continued with compressions, which in the end proved vital. |
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“Seconds really make the difference with CPR – both to save a life and to prevent long-term cardiac and neurological damage. I believe everyone should learn CPR for moments just like this,” said Dr Taylor.
“When the young man regained consciousness, he asked us what the score was! I knew then that he would be okay. I’m so grateful I was able to help,” Dr Taylor said.
“It was a very public and intense situation. I didn't sleep for a few nights afterwards,” said Dr Lawson.
"I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to help this young man, along with Dr Taylor, St John’s Ambulance staff, security and paramedics,” she said.
The young man has since had major surgery at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital. “It’s wonderful to see him doing so well,” said Dr Taylor. “It really does demonstrate that knowing and commencing effective CPR is life-saving,” said Dr Lawson. |
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The Dunghatti Nation is part of Australia’s number one “stroke hotspot”, with stroke incidence nearly doubling the national average. A new awareness program launched by the Mid North Coast Local Health District is working to reduce the risk of stroke for First Nations people in the region. |
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“First Nations peoples are disproportionately affected by stroke compared to non-Indigenous Australians,” said Dr Heidi Lavis, Occupational Therapist and University of Newcastle Researcher. “The Re-imagining F.A.S.T. project is a culturally relevant stroke awareness campaign co-designed with the Dunghutti community. It reimagines the internationally recognised F.A.S.T. stroke message. “The program builds trust by drawing on the knowledge of local leaders, breaking down barriers and empowering the community to seek timely, appropriate care,” she said. |
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Rickey Luland, Kyara Fernando, Heidi Lavis, Amy Thompson, Uncle Noel Lockwood |
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Dunghutti artist Kyara Fernado is a part of the project team involved in the creation of health promotion materials. Her artwork incorporates local totems and symbols, making the message visually striking and culturally significant. “We wanted something different that stands out and connects with our people,” said Rickey Luland, a stroke survivor and key participant in the project. “When I wear the project’s shirt, people stop me to ask about it – it’s starting conversations and spreading awareness,” he said.
For more information on the project, visit the Mid North Coast Local Health District website. |
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When Amber’s water broke in the middle of the night, she and partner Ben set off for Tweed Valley Hospital in the midst of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The drive to the hospital was terrifying, as parts of the Northern NSW Local Health District faced 100 kilometres per hour winds, torrential rain and fallen trees. But Amber said she felt safe the minute she walked into the hospital, despite the chaos outside. |
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Amber, Ben and baby Florence |
| “In the midst of labour I had no idea what was going on outside,” said Amber.
It was only after their daughter Florence was born that the couple noticed the rain lashing against the window.
The new parents only had praise for Tweed Valley Hospital staff – every single person who helped them was “fantastic”. Kristy Eckersley was the midwife in charge of the shift at the maternity unit that night.
“The trip to work was scary. We were cheering when each staff member walked in and got there safely,” Kristy recalled.
“We have a really great, close team here. Those that could get to work came in and those that couldn’t were calling and messaging to make sure we were all okay,” said Kristy. |
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“While Amber was giving birth, we were also oblivious to what was happening outside. So when Florence was born, we all looked outside and thought ‘oh that’s right, the cyclone is going on!’,” said Kristy. |
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In 2019, Renee Wolfe enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing at the age of 43. Just months later, the Black Summer bushfires devastated her hometown of Mogo. She and her husband lost everything. Together with their children and pets, they moved five times in six months, living in tents and a shipping container. But she refused to give up o her dream of becoming a nurse. | |
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“I made a decision to keep going,” said Renee.
“It was such a difficult time and very difficult for my family while I was away for long periods of time to complete my mandatory student placements. Leaving them in rough conditions was hard but I had the drive to complete my degree to better my family’s life,” she said.
In 2021, she and her husband rebuilt their home. By year’s end, she had completed her nursing degree and moved into their new home. |
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Renee Wolfe's house after the bushfires |
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Recently promoted to Infection Prevention and Control Specialist Nurse at Southern NSW Local Health District, Renee is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control with Griffith University. “Hard work has paid off,” Renee said. “I am proud of how far we’ve come.” Kelly-Anne Knight, Infection Prevention Clinical Nurse Consultant, shares her admiration for Renee’s journey. “Renee is a powerhouse. She is so dedicated to her family and her career. She brings a very positive and upbeat energy to our team.” |
| Renee Wolfe and her son Ryan |
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In addition to Hannah Ham's and Elyse Price's busy healthcare roles at Murrumbidgee Local Health District, they’re also helping local communities stay safe as on-call firefighters. Hannah has worked as a registered nurse and midwife in the maternity ward at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital for more than 10 years. In 2023, she decided to take on a new challenge – becoming a firefighter for Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW). |
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Hannah Ham and Elyse Price |
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“I love a challenge and firefighting seemed like a pretty unique opportunity in a small town to do something a bit wild,” said Hannah.
“It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the job. It’s an extremely rewarding and interesting job – taking care of people in one of the biggest moments in their lives is an absolute privilege.”
Like Hannah, Finley Hospital registered nurse Elyse Price also spends her spare time working for FRNSW.
With 15 years as a registered nurse under her belt, Elyse has worked at Finley Hospital for seven years and has been an on-call firefighter for the past 15 months.
“I was looking for something that would challenge me physically and mentally. As I was born in Finley, I was happy to give something back to the community that I was raised and work in,” she said. |
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Community spirit is an essential part of many regional communities. The Milton Ulladulla Hospital Auxiliary has more than 90 years under its belt and an impressive track record of fundraising and supporting the local community.
“Our Auxiliary members are like family here at the hospital – they work so closely with the staff. They are valued members of our team,” said Stuart Emslie, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. | |
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A recent example of this strong partnership was the purchase of eight new hospital beds, that were specifically designed around falls prevention. “Many of our patients are frail and elderly. We want to do everything we can to help reduce their chance of falls in hospital.
“When one of our nurses suggested we look into these beds specifically designed around falls prevention, we spoke to the Auxiliary to see how they could support us. They jumped straight into action and ended up fundraising $80,000 required for the eight beds.” |
| Stuart Emslie (second from the right), Milton Ulladulla Hospital staff and Auxiliary members |
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This collective effort fosters a strong sense of connection between the hospital and the people it serves, with members of the community working together to ensure high quality health care service. “The dedication of the Milton Ulladulla Hospital Auxiliary highlights the heart and resilience of regional communities, where every contribution, no matter how small, has a significant impact,” said Stuart. |
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Year 11 student Charlotte Turley has known for years that she wants to pursue a health career. The school-based apprenticeship and traineeship (SBAT) program at Far West Local Health District offers the perfect opportunity for her to gain work experience while studying. | |
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The 2025 program kicked off recently. A total of 11 students will be working at Broken Hill and Menindee in nursing, allied health, and business services. “SBAT will give me a big advantage in my healthcare career. It allows me to gain hands-on skills and complete my Cert 3 in Allied Health Assistance while staying in school,” said Charlotte.
“I also wanted to explore different allied health fields through the program to help me decide which one to pursue further.” David Green, Director of People and Culture, said students are paid for real work experience, while earning a nationally recognised VET qualification and contributing towards their HSC studies. |
| Charlotte Turley, Athena Raju, Kiarne Sutton |
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“During their two-year traineeship the students will attend face-to-face training, skills workshops and virtual training using a variety of different technologies, to complete their classroom learning and obtain their certificate.”
More than 50 per cent of the students who commenced the program are now employed as casuals for the district.
“Building and growing our future workforce is very important for the district and the SBAT program helps by supporting students with employment opportunities,” said David. |
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Reaching out, listening in |
Jennifer Coote is committed to building community partnerships.
As Community Engagement Lead at Western NSW Local Health District, Jen leads the implementation of the Meaningful Engagement Strategy – a three-tiered approach that gives communities a stronger voice in shaping local health outcomes. |
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| “The communities we work with are eager to make a difference to their health outcomes. We want to make sure we are hearing from all voices,” said Jennifer.
At the organisational level, the team gathers broader community feedback via the online platform Engage Western, and the annual Community Conference. At the sub-regional level, planning committees allow consumer and community representatives to actively participate in service planning and delivery. Locally, the team supports targeted projects that address specific community needs in different towns. “All these reflect the diversity of our region and bring people together to work on issues that impact them,” said Jennifer. “We are seeing positive changes and impacts from the new approach every day.” |
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An evaluation last year highlighted the value of the committees and supported the continued operation and expansion of the model. The team also started attending cultural tours, where local Aboriginal community members share their knowledge, building understanding to work together for meaningful change. “Building trusting relationships is one of the best parts of my job. I’m so thankful to come to work every day, hear people’s stories, and find solutions that drive better health outcomes,” she said. |
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In focus with Brendon Cutmore |
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Q: What are some of the unique or surprising factors in delivering rural and regional patient care?
A: Delivering patient care across rural, regional and remote NSW is incredibly rewarding and comes with both challenges and opportunities that are unique to each individual community.
The breadth of work that health professionals undertake is inspiring and can often be a surprise to people when they first start working in a regional area. I am always so impressed with the skills, courage and work ethic of the amazing people who work in health across regional NSW.
Building and maintaining relationships with communities and key stakeholders is critical in regional areas. When you work in health you play an important leadership role in the community and your job rarely finishes at the end of your shift. This is because the people you’re caring for are part of your community. They shop at the same store, their children go to the same school, and you’re often at the same community events.
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The evolution of programs such as Virtual Care and Hospital in the Home reflect innovative regional thinking and practices. This quality healthcare provided close to home is making a significant impact on regional communities.
Population and public health programs in the community are also helping us to shape a healthier future. With collaboration at its heart, there is remarkable work taking place on healthy built environments, community programs and meeting the challenges of adapting to the diversity of regional living.
Brendon Cutmore
Director Information and Performance Support
Regional Health Division |
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Updated Smoke-free Health Care Policy and Managing Nicotine Dependence Guide
NSW Health has released the updated Smoke-free Health Care Policy and the Managing Nicotine Dependence Guide for NSW Health Staff 2025.
They reinforce NSW Health’s commitment to preventing and addressing the health risks associated with tobacco and e-cigarette use (smoking and vaping). Key updates have been made to align with NSW Health’s position on e-cigarettes (vapes) and to reflect evidence-based, best practice information and recommendations. For more information, visit the NSW Health website. |
| Celebrate your rural health innovation
The Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Rural Innovation Award 2025 celebrates teams addressing rural healthcare challenges with creativity and impact.
Eligible projects need to demonstrate improved outcomes for hard-to-reach populations, creative use of resources, inclusive partnerships and scalability.
Learn more about the awards on the ACI website and contact your local health district awards coordinator or the Rural Health Network to discuss nominating your rural or regional healthcare project.
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How to safely care for patients with anaphylaxis A new e-learning module created by HETI and the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) has been developed for clinicians who deliver direct clinical care to patients. The engaging and interactive module will help you to: -
Recognise anaphylaxis and understand initial management steps
- Assess if patients can retain their own adrenaline (epinephrine) autoinjector whilst admitted
- Ensure adrenaline (epinephrine) is prescribed for patients with a history of anaphylaxis
- Perform appropriate anaphylaxis-related discharge procedures.
Visit My Health Learning to access this training. | |
From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations.
Recent features include: Innovative mental health models of care, value-based care models, and pharmacologic treatment of acute episodic migraine
Antidepressants for low back pain and spine‐related leg pain, allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell therapy in mild Alzheimer’s disease, and reshaping of NHS England.
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare.
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NSW Health acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of NSW and pays respect to Elders past, present and future. |
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