About Us

The NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) was established as a public company limited by guarantee in January 1998 and took over many of the pre-existing roles of the Rural Doctors Resource Network (RDRN) and the NSW Rural Divisions Coordinating Unit (RDCU). The RDN is a membership organisation of about 700 Doctors.

RDN is a not-for-profit and non-government organisation, and is designated by the Australian Government as the Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) in New South Wales (NSW). RDN aims to provide the highest possible standard of health care to rural and remote communities through the provision of a competent and continuing medical workforce in rural and remote NSW. As one of the earliest formed rural medical workforce agencies in Australia, the RDN has become an organisation with a significant amount of influence at both state and national levels.

RDN achieves its objectives by working collaboratively with rural Divisions/Networks of General Practice, the Alliance of NSW Divisions, the Rural Doctors Association of NSW, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Training Program, Rural Training Providers, the Australian Medical Association, the University Medical Faculties and Departments of Rural Health, NSW Rural Health Training Units, the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, State and Federal Departments of Health, rural Area Health Services, local government and other key stakeholders.

The basic framework through which RDN operates is under a thirteen member Board of Directors, headed by an elected Chair and Vice Chair, who are both in full time rural general practice. The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction for RDN, for developing policy and planning priorities, and for ensuring that the RDN meets its contractual agreements and obligations.

RDN receives core and project funding from the NSW Government Department of Health (DoH) through the Department's Non-Government Organisation Program, and infrastructure and project funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA).

RDN also receives annual funds from DoHA to develop and administer the Rural and Remote General Practice Program in NSW. This program aims to attract, recruit and retain general practitioners in rural and remote communities.

Several rural local governments, community and industry organisations also contribute funding for RDN activities.