Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the 2025 Member Survey. We really value you sharing your experiences and insights – they help us better understand the day-to-day realities of working in remote and isolated healthcare.
Your feedback plays an important role in shaping what we do. It helps us focus our advocacy on the issues that matter most to you, refine our services, and keep working towards practical solutions that make a real difference.
Here are some highlights from what you told us.
1. Where our Members work
Not surprisingly, the majority of our Members work in remote Australia.
Many also work in rural and regional areas, some with flexible work arrangements – enjoying varied work contexts in both rural and remote areas.
Interestingly, 37% of Members work and live long term in the same community, which is a little higher than last year (30%) whilst 25% of our Members now work for an agency compared to 29% in 2024.
2. What matters to you
We heard that your leading motivation for the work that you do is professional extension and satisfaction and the feeling that you make a difference. The personal and lifestyle benefits of your work were important for around 50% of respondents.
Members were asked to identify their most important working conditions. The feedback was similar to that of former years. Safety and security were identified as the most important working condition.
Sadly, only 44% of respondents feel supported by their employer when raising safety concerns, and 38% reported they had experienced a safety and security incident whilst at work.
Positive workplace relationships and supportive management were also selected as key attributes for professionally satisfying workplace conditions. Financial remuneration, access to CPD and access to leave featured less prominently.
3. CRANAplus’ advocacy
Members were invited to share their views on CRANAplus’ advocacy work and identify the issues that matter most to them.
Safety and security emerged as the highest priority, reflecting ongoing concerns in many workplaces. Career pathways and primary care resourcing were identified as equal-second priorities, underscoring the importance of sustainable workforce development and well-resourced services in rural and remote settings.
CRANAplus will continue to advocate strongly on these issues, ensuring Members’ voices are heard through our conference program, regular newsletters and social media channels.
4. What Members want to fix in their workplace
When asked what they would most like to improve in their workplaces, several consistent themes emerged.
Members identified the need for better access to education, continuing professional development and funding opportunities, alongside improvements in workplace culture and communication.
Concerns about staffing levels and skill mix were also prominent, as were challenges related to access to adequate resources and appropriate housing.
Ongoing safety and security issues were again raised, reinforcing their significance across many practice settings.
5. Looking ahead: Suggestions from Members
Members provided clear and constructive feedback about what they would like to see in the future. There was strong support for increased access to face-to-face education delivered in regional and metropolitan locations. Many noted that this approach is often more cost-effective than travelling long distances and offers the added benefit of combining professional development with leisure or family time.
Alongside in-person learning, Members also expressed interest in a greater range of short online courses, particularly those focused on practical, timely primary care updates that can be easily integrated into busy work schedules.
6. Thank you to our team
Members also took the opportunity to acknowledge the work of CRANAplus staff. The Bush Support Line was singled out for praise by many respondents, with Members crediting the service for providing vital support and helping them sustain long-term careers in rural and remote practice.
The education team likewise received strong positive feedback, with Members valuing both the quality of face-to-face courses and the flexibility and relevance of online learning options.
