This year’s census saw a 24% increase in participation, with 724 dedicated health professionals sharing insights into the opportunities and challenges in rural healthcare. The census provided RWAV with statistically significant insights, helping us understand the health workforce in rural and regional Victoria like never before.
Key Highlights:
+ Strong engagement across sectors, reflecting the collaborative spirit of rural healthcare.
+ Ongoing, critical workforce shortages across all key areas of rural healthcare, GPs, Nursing, Mental Health, Allied Health, and Specialist roles
+ Priority hotspots locations identified across the Northern and Western Victoria, and Gippsland regions—areas where communities need more support to access healthcare.
At RWAV, we are committed to using these insights to drive strategic solutions, and informs our work with communities, health professionals, and key stakeholders. Through our health workforce recruitment, locum services, outreach, and grant programs, we aim to ensure equitable access to primary healthcare by:
+Targeting resources where they’re needed most
+Advocating for improved policies and funding
+Supporting recruitment and retention strategies
+Building a resilient, regionally distributed health workforce for Victoria’s future
We thank everyone for their participation in the 2024 Victorian Rural Health Workforce Census! Your contribution plays a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare in rural and regional Victoria.
Dive deeper into the Census summary here.

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