The national survey aims to determine the level of access to health services available to those who live in the bush and their expectations about access to healthcare.

“This survey is about assessing people’s satisfaction with access to healthcare in their local area, so RDAA and NRHA can better lobby for more healthcare resources,” RDAA president Dr Nola Maxfield said.

“We want participants to feel they can be frank about the access to healthcare they have in their community, without feeling that they are in any way being critical of their local doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals.

“It is more about the system itself, finding out how satisfied you are with the number of healthcare professionals you have available in your town and whether you believe you have adequate local access to hospital and other health services.

“It gives all rural Australians an opportunity to provide feedback on key issues regarding access to healthcare, such as how long you have to wait for an appointment and how far you have to travel to access healthcare for a range of conditions.”

To complete the survey, go to www.ultrafeedback.com/survey/994 or see the links on the front pages of www.rdaa.com.au or www.ruralhealth.org.au

All information collected will remain confidential and will be for the use of RDAA and the NRHA only.

The survey should be completed by midnight on Sunday, August 15.