Mar182025
CME/CPD Opportunity
The National Rural Health Conference 2025 brings together the rural health community and fosters discussions on rural health. Hosted by Hauora Taiwhenua, it features workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities. Participants will engage with diverse content, including a workshop by Cath Cosgrave on community connectors, addressing the unique challenges in rural healthcare.
The programme is well rounded with the aim to empower Urgent Care practitioners with insights into innovative healthcare strategies, leadership in rural settings, and the practical implementation of community connection programs.
The programme is quite diverse with 5 different streams for concurrent sessions and seven keynote speakers from varying backgrounds. We believe there is something to be learnt from all sessions with relevancy to Urgent Care.

Participation is self-assessed, with opportunities for attendees to participate in a five-minute Q&A session following each 20-minute oral presentation and active participation is encouraged through workshops, small group discussions, and interactive sessions, ensuring a dynamic and engaging learning experience.
Participants can receive a certificate following the conference.

Key note speakers include:

Dr Fiona Bolden
Fiona Bolden is a passionate advocate for rural health, combining decades of experience as both a frontline rural clinician and a healthcare leader. As the inaugural Chair of Hauora Taiwhenua/Rural Health Network, she has led the network’s growth from a fledgling advocacy organisation into a unified and influential voice for rural health.

Matt Chisholm
Former TVNZ Sunday reporter and host of Survivor New Zealand, and Celebrity Treasure Island, Matt Chisholm is well-known to many Kiwis as an authentic, down-to-earth reporter. As someone who has spent 13 years telling other people’s stories, Matt is now sharing his own through his book, Imposter.

Dr Sophie Hart
Sophie enjoys a good night’s sleep, but sometimes she settles for less. Sophie is a rural GP and a member of the most successful adventure racing team ever recently winning the Yukon 1000 event.

Dr Carlton Irving
Carlton (Te Whakatōhea, Te Ūpokorehe) is a highly respected leader in rural health and community development, with over 20 years of experience in the health sector. Born and raised in Ōpōtiki, he overcame significant challenges during his schooling years, embarking on a career in paramedicine that led to his transition into health leadership.

John Macaskill-Smith
John is CEO of Spark Health – focused on supporting and spring boarding clinical digital innovation across the sector: connecting people and systems.

Dr Rod Martin
Rod is a distinguished healthcare professional and the newly elected President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). Based in Armidale, New South Wales, and has dedicated nearly two decades to serving rural and remote communities as a Rural Generalist.

Dr Ganesh Nana
Ganesh is a first-generation New Zealander of Indian ethnicity, raised in Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta. Ganesh acknowledges Māori as Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa. Ganesh lives with his partner in Pōneke.

Please go through NRHC25-Programme-1.pdf for more programme details.