ACEM’s EMET program provides free locally based, hands-on emergency medicine education and training to doctors, general practitioners, rural generalists, nurses, paramedics, allied health workers and other health professionals working in regional, rural and remote hospitals and health services.
Speaking from Canberra today, ACEM President Dr Stephen Gourley launched the College’s Fund EMET campaign. “As someone who lives and works in regional Australia, I believe that all Australians deserve access to good healthcare, whether they live in the city, country, desert or on the coast,” Dr Gourley said.
“But Australians living outside the cities - particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples - have less access to healthcare. Medical workforce shortages are particularly severe in these areas, but doctors already on the ground can be upskilled and supported to provide better emergency care to their communities.”
“I have seen firsthand the amazing benefits that the Emergency Medicine Education and Training (EMET) program provides staff, patients and their communities.”
There are more than 600 emergency departments (EDs) and urgent care centres across Australia, but just 25 percent are currently staffed by emergency medicine specialists.
Completing EMET sessions allows participants to help their communities access much-needed clinical services closer to home, improve the quality of emergency care, and respond effectively and with confidence to serious clinical incidents and major traumas.
Established in 2011, EMET is a joint initiative between ACEM and the Federal Government.
Since its inception, EMET has supported 59 Hubs to deliver training to more than 540 regional, rural and remote health services nationally. EMET has facilitated 24,500 sessions and workshops with 213,000 workshop participants and 240,000 hours of clinical supervision and support. Valuable emergency training continues with recent sessions being held in Wangaratta, the east coast of Tasmania, and Broome.
However, EMET's future is not guaranteed. With funding not yet secured beyond 2025, EMET is at risk.
ACEM is seeking $13 million per annum to fund EMET beyond 2025.
Supporters can help by visiting fundEMET.acem.org.au and:
- Writing to their local MP, urging them to fight for EMET’s future;
- Telling us their story, to highlight the success of EMET at a local level; and
- Sharing the EMET campaign video, so more people can hear of EMET’s benefits.
People in regional, rural, and remote communities generally have shorter lives, higher levels of disease and injury, and poorer access to health services, compared to those living in metropolitan areas. To help address this, the College urges support for initiatives to upskill our existing rural health workforce and continued investment in their education and training to ensure people living in regional, rural and remote areas receive the best possible health care.
Background:
ACEM is the peak body for emergency medicine in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, responsible for training emergency physicians and advancement of professional standards. www.acem.org.au
Fund EMET Contact:
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Media Contact:
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