A Real Chance for Change With the Next National Health Reform Agreement

The National Health Reform Agreement 2026–2031 has now been published. As the primary framework governing health funding in Australia, the Agreement also sets the overarching policy direction and defines the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the Australian Government and all state and territory governments. The National Rural Health Alliance has long argued that the National Health Reform Agreement must explicitly prioritise rural health and clearly articulate the specific commitments required to address rural and remote health inequities. The Alliance welcomes the inclusion of a new schedule in the 2026–2031 Agreement— Schedule F: Better Health Equity for Rural and Remote Communities . This article contends that Schedule F creates an important opportunity for genuine and lasting reform to better support rural health in Australia.