Housing for Health Professionals

Rural Health Workforce Housing Forum 2027

Across rural and regional Victoria, housing availability and affordability are increasingly affecting the ability of health services to attract, recruit and retain the workforce that communities need.

HOUSING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS will bring together leaders from across health, housing, government, investment, community services, First Nations organisations, universities and regional development to explore one of the most pressing challenges facing rural and regional communities.

Hosted by Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV), this inaugural forum will provide a unique opportunity to examine emerging evidence, share practical experiences, hear from organisations responding to workforce housing challenges, and identify opportunities for collaboration and policy reform.

Participants will explore questions such as:

• How is housing availability affecting rural health workforce attraction and retention?

• What are health services, communities and employers already doing to respond?

• What can be learned from successful initiatives across Australia?

• What role should government, investors, housing providers and employers play?

• What practical and policy solutions could help improve access to housing for the rural health workforce?

The forum will feature keynote presentations, expert panels, sector case studies and interactive roundtable discussions designed to harness the expertise of participants as well as invited speakers. Insights from the day will help inform future advocacy, partnerships and workforce housing solutions across Victoria. 

Whether you work in healthcare, housing, government, regional development, community services, education, investment or infrastructure, this forum offers an opportunity to contribute to an important conversation about strengthening rural communities' access to healthcare. 

Who should attend?

• Health service and care sector executives

• Board directors and senior leaders

• Local, state and Commonwealth government representatives

• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations

• Housing and community housing providers

• Universities and research organisations

• Regional development organisations

• Investors and industry leaders

• Workforce, recruitment and policy professionals

Join us as we shape rural housing to enable a sustainable, thriving rural health workforce and better access to care for rural and regional communities.