Kate Dezarnaulds, Community Independent for Gilmore, says voters across the South Coast are tired of political quick fixes while the real cracks in our health system keep widening.
“The major parties are busy fighting over headlines and handouts, while our health system is being held together by burnt-out workers, unpaid overtime and short-term grants,” Kate said.
“People like Jeff, a pharmacist in Ulladulla, are stepping up—flat out checking on older patients, helping with wound care, delivering vaccinations and managing medications. It’s lifesaving work that keeps people out of hospital, but he shouldn’t be carrying the burden of the cracks in our overstretched primary care system.”
Across Gilmore—from Kiama to Jervis Bay, Ulladulla to Moruya—people are waiting too long, paying too much, or going without care. "Despite having the same Medicare card, people in Gilmore receive far less federal investment in their health than those in the city," Kate said. "Regional Australians get $848 less per person each year on average—that’s an $80 million shortfall for Gilmore alone." (1)
Kate says this has created a quiet cost shift from public funding to the private pockets of locals.
“When people can’t access care locally, they’re forced to travel long distances, take time off work, and cover extra costs for fuel, accommodation, and childcare—carrying the emotional and financial burden themselves. For regular check-ups, it’s the hassle and cost of travelling. But when it’s time to give birth, the choice is even harder: either relocate the whole family into temporary accommodation, or face the lonely experience of being separated during one of life’s most joyful and stressful moments.”
“Kate also points to a double standard in private health coverage. “People in regional areas often pay the same premiums as those in the city, but get far less back—because there simply aren’t enough local specialists or services to claim against,” Kate said. “Research shows regional Australians face higher out-of-pocket costs, even when they’re insured. So while city residents are using their cover for things like massages and wellness perks, people here can’t access basics like maternity care, elective surgery or radiotherapy.”
Workforce shortages are at the core of the crisis. “Labor and Liberal keep announcing new clinics and services—but if there’s no one to staff them, it’s just headlines,” Kate said. “We’re seeing this across the board—from GPs and aged care to psychologists and paediatricians. Teenagers are waiting months for assessments and diagnosis that are essential to their mental health support, and families are desperate for solutions.”
Kate’s priorities for Gilmore’s health future include:
- Making Medicare work better for rural and regional communities—by funding time with your GP, whole-person care, and early intervention
- Reforming the funding model to reward health outcomes with a focus on primary preventative care, not just increasing transactional appointments and quick-flick scripts
- Backing community-led solutions and wrap around family services, especially those that address the social and economic drivers of poor health
- Fixing the workforce crisis with a local strategy to train, attract and retain GPs, mental health professionals, specialists, allied health and aged care workers
- Expanding specialist access—especially for children and young people left waiting too long for support
- Sustainable business models that acknowledges the fundamental role that allied health and pharmacists as small businesses play in keeping us well
- Genuine courage to tackle the impact and causes of diseases of despair—supporting services that address trauma, addiction, poverty and social isolation
Kate says the real solutions already exist in our communities—they’re just being overlooked.
“Aboriginal health organisations like Waminda, or local wrap-around services like The Family Place in Moruya, show what works: care that treats the whole person, not just the symptoms,” Kate said. “We should be backing these models—not treating them as fringe. True equity of access means every community, in every postcode, gets the support they need.”
“As a community Independent, I’ll keep the pressure on—free from party lines and focused on what actually works for Gilmore. Health isn’t a luxury—it’s a right. It’s time to fund what works, and that means backing our people.”
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Notes for Media:
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Pronunciation: Kate’s surname, Dezarnaulds, is pronounced ‘Dez-ahhh-know’.
Media Assets
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Photos of Kate available here. More available on request. Campaign video: https://youtu.be/3pt46SbCB4I
About Kate Dezarnaulds and Her Campaign for Gilmore
Kate Dezarnaulds is an independent candidate for Gilmore, committed to delivering practical, community-driven solutions for the South Coast. A local business leader and advocate for regional investment, Kate is focused on fixing real issues, including improving infrastructure, strengthening local economies, and ensuring government funding reaches the people who need it. Kate’s campaign is built on listening to the community, advocating for transparency, and working collaboratively to achieve meaningful change. She believes that Gilmore deserves a strong, independent voice in Canberra—one that puts people before politics.
For more information, visit kate4gilmore.com.au or follow Kate on socials: @kate4gilmore
Authorised by Kate Dezarnaulds, Independent for South Coast Pty Ltd, 3/68 Albert St, Berry NSW 2535
References
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National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) 2023 NOUS Report
https://www.ruralhealth.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/evidence-base-additional-investment-rural-health-australia-june-2023.pdf