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ACHA supports Country Mayors Association to understand barriers and opportunities for health access in rural NSW
24th August 2026
Australian Centre for Health Access' (ACHA) Program Lead – Knowledge Translation Analyst Hamdy Amrizal and Rural Doctors Network’s Community Solutions Manager Katie McDonell recently presented to the Country Mayors Association (CMA) at Parliament House to showcase insights from the Health Access Survey and highlight the vital role local councils play in supporting community access to healthcare.
The presentation built on the longstanding partnership between Rural Doctors Network and the CMA, established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2023 to improve health access and strengthen workforce sustainability across remote, rural and regional communities.
In late 2025, Rural Doctors Network and the CMA released a joint survey to better understand the barriers and opportunities affecting access to health services across local communities. The survey also explored the extent to which local governments support access to healthcare for their residents. Survey design and analysis were undertaken by ACHA.
The findings highlighted the significant role councils play in supporting local health access. This includes investing in health infrastructure, providing financial support, assisting with the recruitment and retention of the health workforce, facilitating housing, strengthening community engagement and supporting health communication initiatives. In many cases, councils reported undertaking activities that extend well beyond their formal responsibilities as local government bodies. Respondents identified a range of persistent barriers to accessing healthcare, including limited service availability, long waiting lists, extensive travel requirements for specialist and allied health services and affordability challenges.
Consistent with challenges experienced across many regional sectors, housing and accommodation shortages, limited childcare options and a lack of employment opportunities for partners were identified as the most significant barriers to recruiting and retaining health professionals.
Katie says the findings highlighted the significant role councils play in supporting local health access.
“Understanding these challenges and opportunities is critical to addressing health access inequities across regional, rural and remote communities. The insights generated through this work will continue to inform Rural Doctors Network’s activities, and we’re delighted with the role that ACHA will play as a fellow enterprise of RDN and key partner in supporting evidence-based approaches to improving health access outcomes,” she said.
ACHA is a social enterprise of RDN – The Charity for Health Access, and works with communities, health services, universities, researchers and policymakers to turn research and evidence into practical, real-world impact. ACHA’s national and international activities are focused on improving health access for under-resourced communities through evidence, research, innovation and health system improvement.
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