For Prof Leigh Kinsman, rural healthcare isn’t just an area of study, it’s a lifelong commitment. As Chair of Rural Health Research and Director of the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research at La Trobe University, he leads a mission to close the gap in healthcare outcomes between rural and metropolitan Australians. The centre, established through a generous $3 million philanthropic bequest, is dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique health challenges faced by rural communities.
Kinsman’s journey into research was shaped by his experiences as a nurse and his deep ties to rural Australia.
“I’ve always lived in rural and regional areas,” he says. “Long-term health inequities for rural Australians have been well known, but I couldn’t understand why there wasn’t more activism around fixing them.” This question led him to undertake a PhD in public health and embark on a 25-year research career focused on improving access to healthcare for rural Australians.
One of the key issues Kinsman highlights is the funding disparity: rural Australians receive, on average, $850 less per person in government healthcare funding than their metropolitan counterparts. Compounding this issue is the fact that while 30% of Australians live in rural areas, only 2% of research funding is directed towards rural researchers. “Despite these challenges, some rural communities are thriving,” Kinsman says. “Our research is about understanding why, and how we can help others do the same.”
Long-term health inequities for rural Australians have been well known, but I couldn’t understand why there wasn’t more activism around fixing them.
Community-driven solutions for skin cancer
In many rural areas, skin cancer detection and treatment are delayed due to long distances to specialists and limited healthcare infrastructure. One such area is the Loddon Mallee, a rural region made up of small country towns from Bendigo in central Victoria to Mildura in northwest Victoria.
“The community came to us asking, ‘Why does our region have one of the highest skin cancer rates, and why does it take so long to get treated?’,” Kinsman says. So he brought together all the right people – researchers, surgeons, GPs, nurses and members of the community – to find solutions.
The team has received a $2.8 million grant from the federal government’s Medical Research Future Fund to improve skin cancer outcomes for rural Australians. They will work with local communities over five years to identify barriers to timely care and implement solutions that fit their specific needs. “Every rural community is different,” Kinsman says. “What works in one place might not work in another, so we have to listen first and build solutions with the people who live there.”
A key aspect of this community-driven approach is the Rural Health Consumer Panel, the first of its kind in Australia. The panel consists of 282 rural Australians who provide direct input into research priorities, ensuring that projects address real community needs.
“At least every month, we engage with our panel members, listen to their experiences, and involve them in our research teams,” Kinsman says. “Our goal is to expand this panel to 1,500 members, making it an undeniable voice for rural health policy change.”
Industry partnerships and sustainable change
Kinsman’s vision for the future of rural healthcare hinges on genuine collaboration and sustainable change. “Often we’ve got to make sure that we’re the quietest voice in the room, listening to what our industry partners and consumers are telling us, and then partnering with them along the way to do good research that helps them address their problems and change outcomes for their communities.”
He stresses that the role of La Trobe University researchers, and particularly the Violet Vines Marshman Centre team, is to work together with the community to solve problems rather than doing research in a silo and then delivering whatever solution they think is best. “We are responding to what industry and consumers tell us,” Kinsman says. “For rural communities, a university like La Trobe is a big resource. Being able to respond to their needs is important. We see ourselves not as a research centre or a school with all the answers but as a resource for the community.”
Connect with Professor Leigh Kinsman
La Trobe Profile | Leigh Kinsman
E: L.Kinsman@latrobe.edu.au
At La Trobe University’s upcoming Partner Showcase on Thursday 29 May 2025, learn how community paramedicine is creating accessible healthcare solutions for rural areas, bridging gaps, and empowering local communities.
Hear from Prof Leigh Kinsman and Prof Evelien Spelten, Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, and Dr Louise Reynolds PhD, Chief Paramedic Officer, Safer Care Victoria. Together, they’ll explore revolutionising rural health through innovation and collaboration. Their approach has the potential to reshape rural healthcare outcomes for the better, driving impact where it’s needed most.
To learn more and register, visit: La Trobe University Partner Showcase 2025 | Eventbrite
