Symposium Meeting

Time to Build on What's been Said..

 

Opening of the 2009 Rural Health Symposium

Welcome from Jo Goodhew as printed in Symposium Handbook

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2009 annual Rural Health Symposium. This Symposium is an important occasion for people whose passion is rural health. Here they can share that passion, their good ideas and they can grow from each other’s experience and knowledge.

All of which will fortify them for their ongoing service in rural communities. The Government recognises the important role vibrant rural communities and families play in New Zealand and we are committed to ensuring the sector continues to thrive.

To be vibrant, a community needs to have access to health care. I’m delighted that participants in the Symposium are being offered a rich and varied programme of speakers and seminars. Of note is the continued spotlight on workforce issues. One of the Government’s key policy measures for tackling workforce challenges is the Voluntary Bonding Scheme. This fresh approach will offer student loan debt write offs and cash incentives to encourage young midwives, doctors and nurses to stay in the country and work in hard-to-staff specialties and communities – which are often rural communities. During my time as National’s spokeswoman for rural health issues I have had the pleasure of learning much from rural health practitioners.

If previous Symposia are anything to go by, your time will be a mixture of fun, sharing and learning. Considerable effort is required to put together the Symposium experience for all participants. I would like to thank the conveners for organising this very important and effective event and I look forward to attending.

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