"Rural health is subjective, everyone sees it differently": understandings of rural health among Australian stakeholders.
In Australia, a diversity of perspectives of rural health have produced a deficit discourse as well as multidisciplinary perspectives that acknowledge diversity and blend in social, cultural and public health concepts. Interviews with 48 stakeholders challenged categories of rural and remote, and discussed these concepts in different ways, but invariably marginalised Aboriginal voices. Respondents overwhelmingly used a deficit discourse to plead for more resources but also blended diverse knowledge and at times reflected a relational understanding of rurality. However, mainstream perspectives dominated Aboriginal voices and racial exclusion remains a serious challenge for rural/remote health in Australia.
Rural Health Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, PO Box 6500, Shepparton, VIC 3632, Australia. Electronic address: bourke@unimelb.edu.au.
Lisa
L
Bourke
Judy
J
Taylor
John S
JS
Humphreys
John
J
Wakerman
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012423:Rural Health; D062487:Social Marginalization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Deficit discourse; Marginalised Aboriginal voices; Relational rural; Remote health; Rural health