If you'd like to undertake a rural placement, partner with us, or learn more about our initiatives and research, we'd love to hear from you.
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Deakin Rural Health
Advancing regional healthcare through research, partnerships, and investment in people and places
Driving accessible and sustainable rural health solutions
Deakin Rural Health is dedicated to improving health and wellbeing for people living in rural and regional Australia, with a strong focus on Western Victoria. Access to high-quality health and community services remains one of the greatest challenges in rural areas. We tackle this by undertaking research to support sustainable and accessible health and community services.
Our history
Deakin Rural Health started in 2016 as part of the Commonwealth’s Rural Health Multi-Disciplinary Training Program, a national initiative to build and sustain the rural health workforce. As one of 20 university departments of rural health, we’ve grown into a team of 40+ researchers within Deakin’s School of Medicine, driving innovation and impact for rural communities.
Health system sustainability
We work with rural health services to co-design research that drives real impact for care delivery, consumer outcomes and mental wellbeing. Our embedded researcher model builds local research capacity and culture, ensuring evidence informs practice. Through implementation expertise, we help scale and sustain innovations that strengthen rural health systems for the long term.
Healthcare access
We use advanced geospatial mapping and workforce research to uncover gaps in rural healthcare and guide smarter planning. We help shape strategies that attract and retain health professionals, creating a sustainable health workforce, as well as striving for equitable healthcare access and outcomes for rural communities.
Rural health placements
Our rural health placements support students and health professionals through placements, education and practical assistance in Western Victoria. Our programs help build a skilled, sustainable workforce, ensuring rural communities have access to quality care and improved health outcomes.
Drive change where it matters
Want to help shape sustainable, accessible healthcare for rural Australia? Study with us to build robust systems and drive research that enhances care where it’s needed most.
Our team
Our team of renowned rural health experts leads innovative research and practical solutions to strengthen health systems, improve access, and deliver lasting impact for communities across Australia.
Professor Vincent Versace is Director of Deakin Rural Health and Founding Co-Director of the Centre for Australian Research into Access. He specialises in biostatistics, population health and health geography. His key research interests include access to essential services, workforce maldistribution and chronic disease prevention.
Associate Professor Kevin Mc Namara is the Deputy Director (Research) at Deakin Rural Health. He is an implementation researcher with a focus on person-centred healthcare. Throughout his career his research has explored innovations that improve healthcare access, care coordination and continuity of care.
Amanda Urquhart, Rural Multidisciplinary Student Support Officer and Rural Multidisciplinary Placement Coordinator
Angela McLaren, Rural Multidisciplinary Student Support Officer
Gill Beard, Administrative Assistant
Mel Roberston, Rural Multidisciplinary Placement Coordinator
Peta Trinder, Senior Project Coordinator
Vic Wallish, Administrative Assistant
Our partnerships
We maintain partnerships with several of the key health and community services in Western Victoria. The emphasis of our partnerships include capacity building, research impact, shared long term goals and mutual commitment to achieving these goals. Our funded partnerships include:
- Grampians Health
- Colac Area Health
- Brophy Family and Youth Services
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
