7f. Lifestyle medicine for rural and remote settings
Tracks
Stream 6
| Sunday, May 24, 2026 |
| 13:15 - 14:00 |
| Room C2.2-2.3 (combined) |
Details
Lifestyle related conditions, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and mental distress, are more prevalent in rural and remote Australia than in metropolitan areas. This inequity is driven by factors such as limited access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities, social isolation, disrupted sleep, psychosocial stress, smoking, and harmful alcohol use.
Lifestyle medicine aligns with the core values of general practice, yet its implementation in rural and remote settings can be challenging. Structural barriers common to primary care – workforce shortages, funding constraints, limited access to allied health and social services – are often magnified by distance, transport difficulties and reduced local infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, lifestyle medicine can be both feasible and effective when delivered in ways that reflect local context. Successful rural approaches are commonly more team based and community embedded, supported by telehealth and flexible service models. Models of care such as Shared Medical Appointments and the Pod Model are increasingly used and accepted in rural practice. Importantly, implementing lifestyle medicine is not simply a change in workflow. It requires a shift in mindset towards prevention, long term capacity building and, where appropriate, chronic disease remission. Understanding community context and engaging local resources are central to success.
Lifestyle medicine aligns with the core values of general practice, yet its implementation in rural and remote settings can be challenging. Structural barriers common to primary care – workforce shortages, funding constraints, limited access to allied health and social services – are often magnified by distance, transport difficulties and reduced local infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, lifestyle medicine can be both feasible and effective when delivered in ways that reflect local context. Successful rural approaches are commonly more team based and community embedded, supported by telehealth and flexible service models. Models of care such as Shared Medical Appointments and the Pod Model are increasingly used and accepted in rural practice. Importantly, implementing lifestyle medicine is not simply a change in workflow. It requires a shift in mindset towards prevention, long term capacity building and, where appropriate, chronic disease remission. Understanding community context and engaging local resources are central to success.
Speaker
Ms Geraldine Ellis-Maguire
Head of Member Experience
RACGP
Chairperson
13:15 - 14:00
Dr Hung The Nguyen
GP
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Inc
Lifestyle medicine for rural and remote settings
13:15 - 14:00
Dr Hung The Nguyen is a GP, Medical and Cultural Educator with decades of leadership in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Multicultural Health. He currently serves as Medical Director for Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Alice Springs and has held major national roles, including inaugural Censor for RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and President of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. A sought‑after expert, Dr Hung The Nguyen sits on multiple boards shaping primary care and clinical education. His work is driven by a passion for improving patient journeys and strengthening culturally safe, high‑quality healthcare.
