A number of strategies can be used by health care organisations in rural areas to recruit staff, including: career progression, mentoring and profession development, connecting people with social networks and providing financial remuneration. To maximise staff retention, it is important to ensure that there are career progression pathways within the organisation, and that organisational management and policy provides support and opportunities for staff. Staff also need to be included as part of a social network in the community.

Aim Identify what factors rural women perceived to influence their surgical choice for EBC.Background Higher rates of mastectomy still remain for women with early breast cancer (EBC) in rural areas. While access to radiotherapy is a commonly identified barrier, there is growing debate around other factors which are also important influences on surgical choice.

Background Incorporating supportive care into routine cancer care is an increasing priority for the multi-disciplinary team with growing evidence of its importance to patient-centred care. How to design and deliver a process which is appropriate for patients, clinicians and health services in rural areas needs further investigation.

This study explored health and education professionals' perceptions of the health benefits and barriers of different ear health programs used in lower primary school classes in two district education areas in the Goldfields South East Health Region, Western Australia. Health and education staff providing services to children in kindergarten to year three primary school classes were sent a questionnaire about ear health programs provided in their school. Sixty-one questionnaires were returned from 43 teachers, 14 community health nurses, three Aboriginal health workers and one teacher's assistant. Some schools implemented all the ear health programs examined at all year levels while others implemented only one of the programs. Teachers, community health nurses and Aboriginal health workers identified that all ear health programs were beneficial to students. Reported physical health benefits included reduced ear infections, early detection of ear infections and improved hearing. Behavioural benefits included improved concentration, alertness and attention in the classroom. Barriers to implementing the programs were obtaining consent from parents/carers, student transience and attendance, time to implement and conduct the programs and human and physical resources. Evaluation methods used varied from no evaluation for the Breathe Blow Cough and tissue spearing programs to limited data collection for audiometry, otoscopy and ear toilet programs. Respondents perceived that ear health programs were effective in improving health and behavioural outcomes for children. A formal pre-post evaluation to provide objective data to confirm this is needed to inform policy around this important health issue.

Rural women in Victoria Australia were largely satisfied with the interaction and communication with their surgeon during diagnosis and treatment planning for early breast cancer. Current practice was predominately in line with clinical practice guidelines.