Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) asserts that maternity care should and can be delivered safely to women and their families as close to home as possible and by a collaborative, multidisciplinary team with strong governance structures. 

All maternity services should be informed by their consumers and the community which they serve and seek to foster a culture of respect, professionalism and inter-disciplinary collaboration to provide a woman-centric service. 

RDAQ’s position on rural maternity services reflects the policy position of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA). The RDAA policy has been widely consulted and identifies the following key enablers for sustainable rural maternity services.

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The Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) asserts that Doctors in Rural Training must be afforded professional, quality education and training opportunities which build upon those received by their city counterparts for the duration of their training across the variety of rural/remote contexts. 

Training experiences for Doctors in Rural Training in Queensland must demonstrate clear standardised prioritisation of educational and supervision experiences regardless of location or workforce limitations. 

These formative training experiences will encourage and promote remote and rural practice and increase the likelihood that a trainee will commit to providing service to that community beyond their training time, thereby strengthening services in rural locations.

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Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) has released its Remote & Rural General Practice in Queensland Policy Position affirming its stance that General Practice is fundamental to the state’s healthcare system.

RDAQ’s paper asserts rural General Practice requires increased recognition and support, as well as new ways of thinking, multidisciplinary models of service delivery, and approaches to training and retention, to enable its viability and sustainability into the future.   

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RDAQ recognises that climate change is a significant health issue with the potential to further exacerbate many of the unique health challenges in our regional, rural and remote communities of Queensland.  

RDAQ observes how the extreme weather events and rising temperatures are affecting the physical and mental health of individuals and families, the health workforce, infrastructure and services that communities rely on.  

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The Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) acknowledges coercive control and domestic and family violence as a major public health concern. 

GPs are a trusted source of support for people and can make a significant difference in combatting coercive control and domestic and family violence. Rural and remote doctors are well-positioned for early recognition of risks.

Doctors can support access to safety planning and safe exits for those experiencing coercive control. Through advocating for and equipping doctors, RDAQ can positively impact on their community's health and wellbeing.

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