The opening of the Coalition Government’s Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund (RJDTIF) will work as part of the Integrated Rural Training Pipeline measure to help tackle one of Australia’s biggest health challenges – locating doctors, particularly GPs, in regional, rural and remote Australia.

At least 60 junior doctors will be supported under the program each year, at a cost of up to $10 million.

They will train in a variety of primary care settings, such as general practice and Aboriginal Medical Services. 

This will improve the pathway for new graduates into challenging and rewarding careers as doctors with the skills needed by rural communities

It’s also encouraging to see the national broadcaster, the ABC, upping its emphasis on the important issues of rural, regional and remote Australia. 

This week’s announcement of up to 80 new ABC jobs to the regions is a welcome recognition of the importance of country Australia to all Australians.

Farm production is forecast to leap 8.3 per cent during this financial year; this will take the value of farming output across Australia to $63.8 billion, a new all-time record. 

It pushes production well beyond the five year average to last year of $52.3b.

Agriculture exports were worth $11.4 billion in the December quarter 2016, up by $1 billion or almost 10 per cent from the September Quarter ($10.3 billion). It’s a further signal of how agriculture is at the forefront of growth across the Australian economy.​