This policy brief highlights the significant health disparities experienced by people living outside metropolitan Adelaide in South Australia. It calls for sustained investment in regional infrastructure, workforce planning and community health models that address the social determinants of health and ensure equitable access to care for all South Australians.

Barriers such as limited access to primary healthcare, transport, affordable housing, childcare and workforce shortages all compound to reduce opportunities for preventive health and early intervention. 

While the Australian health system continues to be dominated by a biomedical model, community models that take a social view of health are better placed to enhance equity of access to preventive health by addressing complex and interrelated circumstances that drive inequities. 

Key policy recommendations

• Action on broader determinants of health aimed at improving living and working conditions and reducing poverty across regional areas.
• Regional workforce planning and support, including regional strategies to attract, train and retain health and social service professionals.
• Adoption of community health models.