Empowering Rural Healthcare: Ruth Hardman to present insights at the RWAV Conference

SCHS Pain Rehabilitation Specialist, Dr Ruth Hardman, has been invited to present at the 2025 Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV) Conference in February 2025 in Bendigo. This annual event welcomes health professionals, service leaders, and policymakers to address the most critical issues in rural and regional healthcare.

Ruth’s submission was selected by the RWAV judging panel   and  has accepted her invitation to present the findings and progress of the CP@clinic with a focus on the opportunity these clinics provide to support  rural primary  care. Ruth’s presentation is titled    “Can it be this easy? Improving access to care with Community Paramedicine: The CP@clinic program in Australian community health” 

“Given the current oversupply of the paramedicine workforce, this project demonstrates the potential to integrate paramedics into rural, multidisciplinary primary care, aligning with the Cormack Scope of Practice review.” said Dr Hardman. 

Additionally, Dr Hardman will  present at the Australian Pain Society National Conference in early April, where she will discuss “Rural Realities vs Urban Ideals: Breaking the Metro Mould of Pain Management in Rural Australia.” This presentation aims to shed light on the unique challenges faced by rural communities in accessing effective pain management solutions. Exploring the disparities between urban and rural healthcare services and propose innovative strategies to bridge this gap.

Ruth’s work exemplifies the power of innovation and collaboration in tackling healthcare disparities, and her presentations are sure to inspire others in the field to explore new possibilities for improving rural healthcare.