Despite almost 30% of the Australian population living in regional or rural areas less than 10% of Specialist Plastic Surgeons work in these areas. Irrespective of community need, there is a large discrepancy between the metropolitan and regional, and rural Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (P&RS) workforce. This is not unique to the P&RS workforce. There is a longstanding recognition that the regional and rural health workforce must be better supported, better encouraged, and better retained in order to ensure regional and rural communities are not disadvantaged when compared with their metropolitan counterparts.

Read the ASPS Guide to establishing a regional or rural plastic and reconstructive surgery service here.