Labors Rural and Regional Health Spokesperson, Stephen Jones, has thanked outgoing Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) CEO Jenny Johnson for her distinguished service.

Jenny was born and raised on a farm in Theodore, a remote community in Central Queensland and worked as an Executive Officer of Rural Doctors Association of Queensland and consultant to Health Workforce Queensland.

She served as head of the RDAA for more than five years and was outspoken about the impact of health budget measures, including the $7 GP co-payment, on health professionals and patients living outside of our major cities.

Jenny worked tirelessly to boost rural health workforce numbers and retain Doctors in rural and remote settings. It was her aim to deliver the best possible health services to rural Australians, who have higher levels of chronic disease and often have difficulties accessing the medical help they need.

She was constantly full of praise for the energy and hard work shown by Doctors working in rural areas on the frontline in primary care.

Mr Jones said that he looked forward to working with the new head of RDDA, Ms Peta Rutherford, to improve access to health services in regional, rural and remote Australia.