GRACE Initiative Launched to Strengthen Global Rural Health Collaboration
The WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice (Rural WONCA), featuring members from the Melbourne Medical School Department of Rural Health, has launched a new global initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration, recognition and equity in rural health worldwide .
The GRACE Initiative – Global Rural Health Action, Collaboration and Excellence – was formally introduced at the Rural WONCA Assembly on Thursday 9 April, as part of the 21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference held in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Pictured: Attendees at the Rural WONCA Assembly.
GRACE provides a shared international framework to recognise organisations that demonstrate a sustained and meaningful commitment to rural health. GRACE involves academic institutions, including The University of Melbourne, health services, professional organisations, workforce support groups and multidisciplinary centres working to improve rural health outcomes.
Rather than creating a new standalone institution, GRACE connects existing organisations through a global network, supporting collaboration, knowledge exchange and collective advocacy for rural health equity. The initiative responds to ongoing challenges faced by rural communities internationally, including workforce shortages, limited access to training and research infrastructure, and increasing health system pressures.
The Assembly was opened by Dr Pratyush Kumar, Chair of the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice, and featured an address from Audrey Sonerson, Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of New Zealand’s Ministry of Health.
Representatives from partner organisations across four continents participated in the Assembly. Presentations were delivered by organisations including the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (Canada), Australia’s National Rural Health Commissioner, the University of Otago (New Zealand) and the Norwegian Centre for Rural Medicine at the Arctic University of Norway. Dr Claire Quilliam from The University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health presented outcomes from national and international research collaborations on novel place-based health professions course design and implementation, rural health professions student supports, high-quality health professions student work-integrated learning, and the Australian rural and remote disability research Community of Practice.
Morning sessions focused on key themes such as rural workforce recruitment and retention, place-based models of care, rural generalist medicine and rural health policymaking. Afternoon workshops provided opportunities for participants to explore how successful rural health initiatives might be adapted across different national and regional contexts.
The Assembly formed part of a broader week of Rural WONCA activities, including a Council meeting and workshop held on Wednesday 8 April, ahead of the main conference program.