Doctor deserts across Australian cities: RMIT expert available for comment
An expert from RMIT University is available to talk to media about new liveability indicators released by the Australian Urban Observatory at RMIT University on access to general practitioner clinics across Australian cities.
Results published in The Guardian today show people living in sprawling suburbs need to travel up to 9km to see a general practitioner.
Associate Professor Melanie Davern (+61 405 562 735 or melanie.davern@rmit.edu.au)
Topics: Social infrastructure planning, growth areas, suburban development, access to services in cities.
“These long distances in growth areas are reinforcing health inequities across our cities and directly related to city planning which focuses on building housing in growth areas before services.
“People living in fringe areas of the city are already travelling longer distances to access basic services like supermarkets, schools and employment in their cars because there isn’t good public transport or walking and cycling infrastructure.
“This in turn, means that they have fewer opportunities to be active, are more likely to develop health conditions and then have to travel further to even see a local doctor.”
More information on the story is available in The Guardian today.
Associate Professor Melanie Davern is a public health and urban planning researcher with passion for the translation of research evidence into policy and practice. She is the Director of the Australian Urban Observatory in the Centre for Urban Research and a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at RMIT University.
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For interviews: Associate Professor Melanie Davern, +61 405 562 735 or melanie.davern@rmit.edu.au.
General media enquiries: RMIT Communications, +61 439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au.
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