Research Shows Health Issues are a Concern for Rural Women

Over 150 rural women and community representatives will attend a national forum in Melbourne this week to discuss the health and well being of women living in rural and remote areas.

Preliminary findings of research conducted by the Charles Sturt University into the quality of life for rural women will be released at the forum. The research indicates that access to services is a major issue for women in rural areas.

This is not surprising to the National Rural Women’s Coalition hosting the 2 day national forum next week.

NRWC Chair, Ms Anne Glasheen said “The aim of our Forum is to develop recommendations for the Australian Government regarding our physical, emotional, mental and social well being. Its time for these issues to be heard’.

“The feedback from rural women and our own organisations has been overwhelming” Ms Glasheen said. “Access to services is a major issue in rural and remote areas and this impacts on a range of health issues across a woman’s life experiences.”

“Maternity services, family violence, aged care and mental health are all important issues in anyone’s life. Having few or no services for these in the bush is very hard on women.”

Jeff Kennett, Professor Margaret Alston from Charles Sturt Uni lead an impressive line up of guest speakers highlight the key theme that healthy women in rural areas is closely related to healthy communities. “These go hand in hand” said Ms Glasheen, “and we need to encourage government, at every level, to embrace the concept of healthy communities when developing policies for the long term sustainability of rural Australia”.

Healthy Women – Healthy Communities will be held in Melbourne on 18 – 19 October 2004.