APNA welcomes new Rural Health Commissioner

Media Release: 3 July 2020

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s appointment of Associate Professor Ruth Stewart as Australia’s new National Rural Health Commissioner.

APNA President Karen Booth congratulated Associate Professor Stewart on her appointment, saying it showed the Government’s ongoing commitment to rural health and health reform.

“We are particularly pleased to see that the Commissioner will be supported by two Deputy Commissioners with expertise in nursing, allied health and Indigenous health. This underscores the importance of nurses as part of a multidisciplinary approach to health care.

“APNA looks forward to working with the Commissioner’s office as it develops and promotes integrated approaches to health care delivery in rural and remote areas. We are also pleased to see that the office will be contributing to health reform, including in primary health care.”

Associate Professor Stewart is a distinguished rural health advocate, practitioner and academic. She is immediate past president of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and is Associate Professor of Rural Health at James Cook University. She has been working on Thursday Island as a Senior Medical Officer with obstetric credentialing.

Media inquiries: Tony Wells, 0417 627 916  tony.wells@apna.asn.au