LA TROBE University has called for community input into their newly launched regional and rural health consumer panel.

The university’s Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research launched the major new initiative on Monday, May 2, setting up Australia’s first health consumer panel focused solely on people living in rural and regional areas.

The new Rural Health Consumer Panel will assist researchers in gaining deeper understanding of the health issues affecting rural and regional Australians, and panel members will help develop solutions for health and wellbeing challenges.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a better understanding of the unique health and wellbeing challenges of people living in rural and regional areas.

We know the health of people living in rural and regional areas is poorer compared with people living in major cities, with higher rates of hospital admissions and a higher burden of chronic disease.

We need innovative ways to deliver rural health services, and these solutions need to be informed by people living in rural and regional communities.

Anyone aged 18 and over who lives in regional or rural Australia can be involved, there is no deadline to apply, and no limit to the number of panel members.

To join the panel, you must complete the online registration survey at latrobe.edu.au/research/violetmarshman. For more information, please contact ruralpanel@latrobe.edu.au.