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ALUMNI ACTI

ON

June 2012

I n t h i s I s s u e :•NRHSNAlumniSteeringCommittee•CaringforthecarersinSA•Alumni-Wherearetheynow?•NRHAChairProfessorLesleyBarclay

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Alumni

Cover photo: Christopher Bryg, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

HellofromtheNRHSNAlumnisteeringcommittee.Ihopethismagazinefindsyouwell,andenjoyingwhatlifehastoofferoutsideofurbanboundaries.WeconsistofthreeformerNRHSNmemberswhoarepassionateaboutpromotingandencouragingruralhealthcareers,assistedbythehelpofRHWstaff.TheNRHSNarenowahugely

positiveforceingarneringinteresttowardsruralandremotehealth,andareconstantlyincreasingtheirnetofinfluenceatUniversitiesaroundthecountry.However,ithasalwaysbeenfeltbyfinalyearstudentsthatthereis

TheNRHSNisultimatelyastudent’snetwork,howeveritisacknowledgedthatourmembersdonotremainstudentsforever(eventhoughsometimesitfeelslikewedo!).Ourmemberseventuallygraduateandmoveintotheworkplace. WehopethatourpastmembersarestillpassionateaboutruralhealthandpursuingcareersinruralAustralia.Considertheprofessionalpathofa

member.Weseethattheymovealongacontinuumfromschooltouniversitystudyandintotheworkplace.TheNRHSNandNRHSNAlumnihaveavitalroletoplayinhelpingtosupportmembersacrosstheirruralhealthjourney.

2012Executive:(fromlefttoright)Simon Reid, James Roth andBenjamin Crough

Dan MahoneyisaphysiotherapistatKatanninginWAandisaboardmemberofSARRAH(ServicesforAustralianRural

andRemoteAlliedHealth).

Jasmine Banner isaResidentMedicalOfficeratRoyalDarwinHospital,on

placementinKatherine(PrevocationalGeneralPracticePlacementsProgram).

Emily DaltonisagraduatenurseatRoyalBrisbaneWomen’sHospitalintheDepartmentofEmergencyMedicine,

withruralhealthinhersights.

AlumniSteeringCommittee

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somewhatofaleapintothedarkupongraduation.TheAlumninetworkideahasbeenfloatingaroundforawhile,butwasfinallykickedoffinanattempttobridgethisgap.UltimatelyouraimsaretoencouragemoreAustralianhealthdegreegraduatestotakeupjobsinruralareas,largelystillsufferingfromworkforceshortage,andsupportthosewhodo.Thisisbynomeansaneasytask.Atthisstage,withnoextrafunding,ourprojectsarelimited.Someideaswehaveincludeanannualnetworkingeventandawebsitetooltosearchforcareeropportunitiesorcontactsina

TheRuralHighSchoolVisitprogramprovidesagreatopportunitytoengagewithpotentialmemberswhilsttheyarestillatschoolandatacriticalstageinconsideringtheirfuture.ThisasanimportantavenuetoprovideatangiblemeasureoftheimpactoftheNRHSN.In2011,over300RuralHealthClubmembers

certainlocation.Wearetryingtokeepcommunicationlinesopenwithregularemailbulletinstocomplementthismagazine.Asthisnetworkisinitsinfancy,weare

stillgatheringdifferentideastopossiblyimplement.Whatwouldencourageyoutogetoutbush?Whatwouldhelpinkeepingyouthere?Whateveryouaredoing,whereveryouare,we’dlovetohearfromyou.Contactusat [email protected]

Cheers,Jas,DanandEmily

volunteeredfortheRuralHighSchoolVisitsprogramtovisitover150schoolsinregional,ruralandremoteAustralia.WeknowthatthesehaveapositiveimpactininspiringruralstudentstoenrolinhealthprogramsatUniversity.Youmayhaveevenbeenoneofthesestudents.Towardstheotherendofthe

continuumarethosemembersoftheNRHSNwhohavegraduated.Thisrepresentsamassivechangefortheindividual.OurAlumniprogramrepresentsawaytoremainengagedandcontributebacktotheNRHSN.ManyofourmembersacknowledgetheimportantroletheNRHSNplayedintheircareerandparticipatingintheAlumniprogramcanallowyoutohelpstudentswhomayonedaybecomeyourcolleaguesinruralAustralia.

A l u m n i A c t i o n J u n e 2 0 1 2

NRHSNexecutive

Address: 1500 Midland Hwy, Creswick, Victoria

rural health workforce

CONNECT ENGAGE INSPIRE at NURHC 2012

Stay tuned for more information at www.nrhsn.org.au/nurhc and www.facebook.com/nrhsn

The National University Rural Health Conference (NURHC) 10-11 August 2012 Creswick, Victoria

• Welcome evening on Thurs 9th Aug• Venue – Novotel Forest Hill Resort at picturesque Creswick• Inspiring speaker program• Special rate available for NRHSN Alumni members

Enquiries: [email protected]

2012

The National University Rural Health Conference (NURHC) is a conference for NRHSN members, supported by financial assistance from the Australian Government and hosted by Rural Health Workforce Australia.

Now,morethanever,Australianeedsyourskills,passionanddesiretomakeadifference.ThereleaseoftherecentHealth

Workforce2025reporthighlightsthemagnitudeoftheshortfallindoctorsandnursesfacingAustraliaunlesspolicymakerstakeaction.Ifwedonothing,therewillbean

estimatedshortageof109,000nursesand2,700doctorsby2025,exacerbatedbythegrowinghealthneedsofanageingpopulation.That’sunlikelytotranslatewellforthecountry.Asweallknow,theneedisgreatest

thefurtheronetravelsfromAustralia’scapitalcities.CountrypeopletendtohavepoorerhealthoutcomesthantheircitycounterpartsandthisisnothelpedbythefactthattherearepersistentshortagesofhealthprofessionalsinpartsofruralandremoteAustralia.Whatthismeanstoyouasahealth

professionalintheearlystagesofyourcareeristhatyouareindemand–andwillbewellintothefuture.Forourpart,weareheretosupportyou

–whetheryouarealreadypractisinginatownorregionalcentre,orifyouhavejuststartedonthepathtoaruralcareer.I’drecommendgettingtoknowour

memberRuralWorkforceAgenciesineachstateandtheNorthernTerritory.Thesearenot-for-profitorganisationsthatrecruitandsupporthealthprofessionalstolive,workandstayinthebush.

Theyrunfamilyweekends,organiseprofessionaldevelopmentseminarsandhavefantasticlinkswithlocalcommunities,trainingprovidersandotherhealthorganisations.Thismeanstheycanhookyouupwith

dreamjobsinsomeprettyamazingplaces.Thisyear,RuralWorkforceAgencies

aremovingintonursingandalliedhealthrecruitment,inadditiontotheirtraditionalroleoflookingafterdoctors.Youcanfindtheirdetailsatwww.rhwa.org.au Atapolicylevel,youcanbeassured

thatRuralHealthWorkforcewillcontinuetoadvocateformoreopportunitiesforpostgraduatetraininginavarietyofruralandregionalsettingssupportedbysufficientlevelsofsupervisionandmentoring.Wewanttomakesurethatyougetall

thehelpyouneedasyouprogressalongtheruralpathway.I’dbehappytohearyourthoughtsonhowwecanmakethatjourneyeasierforyou([email protected]).

RHWCEOGregSam

Heretohelp

Rural Health WorkforceRural Workforce Agencies www.rhwa.org.auNSW Rural Doctors Network 0249248000 www.nswrdn.com.au

Rural Workforce Agency Victoria 0393497800 www.rwav.com.au

Health Workforce Queensland 0731057800 www.healthworkforce.com.au

Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (SA) 0882348277 www.ruraldoc.com.au

Rural Health West (WA) 0863894500 www.ruralhealthwest.com.au

NT Health Workforce 0889821000 www.gpnnt.org.au

Health Recruitment Plus – Tasmania 0363342355 www.healthrecruitmentplus.com.au

Greg Sam CEORuralHealthWorkforce

Address: 1500 Midland Hwy, Creswick, Victoria

rural health workforce

CONNECT ENGAGE INSPIRE at NURHC 2012

Stay tuned for more information at www.nrhsn.org.au/nurhc and www.facebook.com/nrhsn

The National University Rural Health Conference (NURHC) 10-11 August 2012 Creswick, Victoria

• Welcome evening on Thurs 9th Aug• Venue – Novotel Forest Hill Resort at picturesque Creswick• Inspiring speaker program• Special rate available for NRHSN Alumni members

Enquiries: [email protected]

2012

The National University Rural Health Conference (NURHC) is a conference for NRHSN members, supported by financial assistance from the Australian Government and hosted by Rural Health Workforce Australia.

Inside Alumni ActionAlumni—where are they now? 4–5Caring for the carers in SA 6Profile: NRHA Chair Prof Lesley Barclay 7Reach Out: Community & Advocacy 7Alumni Action is published by Rural Health Workforce Australia. E: [email protected] Ph: 03 9860 4700Suite 2, Lvl 5, 10 Queens Rd, Melb VIC 3004

Where are you from? Brisbane,Queensland

Where did you study? Which Rural Health Club were you a member of?QueenslandUniversityofTechnology(forbothNursing/PublicHealthandParamedicdegrees).TROHPIQ.

Where are you now? IliveinClermont,butworkinEmerald(Queensland).

What do you do there? IworkfulltimeasanAdvancedCareParamedicinEmeraldforQueenslandAmbulanceService,anddotheoddnursingshiftatClermontHospital.

What is the best thing about your town/job?IabsolutelyadorebeingaParamedic.Ilovethecamaraderiewithmycolleagues,IlovetheclinicalautonomyIhave(comparedwithNursing),Ilovethechallengesofworkinginthepre-hospitalsetting,andIlovedrivingtheambulancewithlightsandsirensgoing.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing - what would you be doing? Iwouldbeapoormusicianplayinginanorchestra.

Best rural experience? MeetingmyhusbandinMountIsa(Matthew’sanotherParamedic/Nurse).OthergreatruralexperiencesincludecampingattheGregoryRiverCanoeRacesandseeingsunsetsintheOutback.

What’s the one thing you want the world to know about you?Iwanttobeanacademic,researchingParamedicissuesandteachingthenextgenerationofParamedics.

The thing you don’t want the world to know?Iactuallylikenightshifts.

Words of wisdom for others thinking about a rural health career?Ifyou’renotsureifaruralhealthcareerisforyou,considerworkingasalocuminthebush.Workinginruralhealthisnotalifesentence,butyoucanbeassuredthatyourruralexperienceswillstaywithyouforlife.Beforeyougraduate,itisessentialthatyouhaveamentorwhomyoucancontactanddiscusswhatyou’regoingthrough.WhenIwasagraduatenurse,mymentorbecameinvaluable,especiallyinnormalisingmyexperiences.Generally,beinginruralandremoteareasisenormousfun.Makethemostofallopportunities.Gotoallthelocalsocialevents(liketheraces,theshow,footymatches,evenbingo)andgetinvolved.Explorethenaturalbeautyoftheareaandappreciatewhereyouare.

Anything else at all?AbigshoutouttoalltheTROHPIQAlumni–IhaveawesomememoriesoftheKingaroytrips,formaldinnersandNURHCs.Goodlucktothosestillstudying.Icannotwaittomeetyouandworkwithyouinthebush.Ruth would be happy to offer her services as a mentor to a student or early career graduate. Email [email protected].

Ruth Davenport (nee Hosking)

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Where are you from? IwasborninBallarat,Victoria,grewuponMagneticIsland(offTownsvilleCoast,Queensland)untilage8,andreturnedtoBallarat.

Where did you study? Which Rural Health Club were you a member of?IcompletedaBachelorofScienceatDeakinUniversity,Geelong,andPostgraduateMedicineatFlindersUniversity,Adelaide,whereIjoinedFURHS.

Where are you now? IworkinColacandliveinElliminyt,Victoria(previouslylivedinnearbytownBirregurra).

What do you do there? IworkasaruralGP,specialisinginWomen’sHealth,Obstetrics(antenatalcareanddeliveringbabies)andMentalHealth.

What is the best thing about your town/job?Iliveinabeautiful,close-knitcommunitysurroundedbyopencountryside,near

A l u m n i A c t i o n J u n e 2 0 1 2

ColacGP Anne McGuane andherdaughterOliviaenjoyedtakingsometimeoutduringatrippromotingtheVictorianrurallifestyletofuturemedical

practitionersaspartoftheGoRuralCampaign.

Where are you from? IgrewupinVillawood,SouthWestSydney–haveyouheardofitlately?

Where did you study? Which Rural Health Club were you a member of?AfterayearofForensicScienceatUTS,ImovedtoSydneyUnitostudyOccupationalTherapy.MIRAGEwasmyruralhealthclubandoneofmyroleswaspresident.AfteruniversityIstuckaroundasamentorandhelpedwithotherkeenfriendstoformanalumnigroupcalledGraduateAssistanceandPartnershipsProgram(GAPP).

Where are you now?ImovedtoLauncestonforayearin2003.IhadmyfinalplacementinHobartandpinedtoreturntoTasmania.Asaresult,Iamstillhere.

What do you do there?IworkattheIndependentLivingCentreTasmania(ILCTas)inthe

Christopher BrygconquersCradleMountain,Tasmania

LaurenConehaspursuedherruraljourneysincefinishinghermedicaldegreeattheUniversityofNewSouthWalesin2007.TheformerRAHMSmemberis

currentlybasedinTamworthwheresheisdoingextendedskillstraininginpsychiatryatTamworthRuralReferralHospital.It’saplaceshe’squitefamiliarwith,

havinggrownupinnearbyGunnedah–whereshewasduxofthelocalhighschool–andhavingbeenaninternonandoffatthehospitalsincehergraduation.She’salsopickedupplentyof

experiencealongthewayworkingasaGPinInverellandArmidale.DrConeisamemberoftheNSW

RuralDoctorsNetwork’sRuralMedicalSupportForum.HerconnectionwiththeNSWRDNstartedatuniversitywhenshewasacceptedintotheruralworkforceagency’scadetshipprogram.AsaNSWRDNcadet,shereceived$15,000ayearforthefinaltwoyearsofhermedicaldegreeinreturnforworkingfortwoyearsinaruralNSWbasehospitalduringtheearlystagesofhercareer.DrConecontinuestobeamajorfanof

thecadetshipsystem.“Itwasoneofthebiggestinfluencesin

keepingmeontrack,”shesays,referringtoherpathintoruralmedicine.“Therealbonusisthenetworking,

thefriendsyoumakeandthewonderfulruraldoctorsyoumeet.It’sthekindofexperienceyoucan’tbuy.”Shesaysthesupportiveenvironment

ofthecadetshipprogramgoesalongwaytocounteringentrenchedattitudestowardsruralmedicine.

Lauren Cone…lovinglife asaruraldoctor.

theOtwaysandGreatOceanRoad.Itisaprivilegetobecloselyinvolvedinpeople’slives.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing - what would you be doing? Iwouldbegardeningorplayingathomewithmykids.IhavethreechildrenJoshua(18),Thomas(16)andOlivia(11).

Best rural experience? Ilovetoattendlocalfootymatchesandwatchmysonsplay.IenjoybeinginvolvedintheBirregurraFootballClubasayellingMumandattendingdoctor–ifrequired.

What’s the one thing you want the world to know about you?Ilovemylife–itisverycool.Ihavean

awesomehome(twoacresofgarden,dam,tenniscourtandpool),happy,healthykidsandsupportivepartner.Ilovemyjob.Itisfun,challenging,hardworkandsupremelyrewarding.

The thing you don’t want the world to know? Iburpalot.

Words of wisdom for others thinking about a rural health career? Getintoit.Giveitago.Haveatry.Ifyouareremotelyinterested,exploreruralearlyinyourcareer–asastudentorresident.

Anything else at all?Iamveryfortunatetobewellsupported,appreciatedandwellpaidindoingwhatIlove.Whatmorecouldanyofuswant?

Wherearetheynow?

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TechnologyAccessService.Iprovideassessment,trainingandadviceonimplementationofassistivetechnologyenablingpeoplewithdisabilitiestousecomputers,communicateandoperateelectronicdevicesforqualityoflifeandindependence.JustrecentlyIstooddownaschairoftheTasmanianDivisionofOccupationalTherapyAustralia.Myotherinterestisperforming.I

performwithlocaltheatrecompaniesinplaysandmusicals.LastyearIperformedinmyfirstopera(TheMagicFlute)inHobartwithUniversityofTasmania.

What is the best thing about your town/job?Iloveworkingwithchildrenwithdisabilitiestohelpdevelopskillstheyneedforplay,communicationandaccesstolearningusingtechnology.WhatIloveaboutLauncestonisthatitprovidesmewithallthethingsIneedformyinterestswhilealsobeingonthedoorstepofbeautifulcountryside,fantasticfoodandbushwalkinginthewilderness.Best rural experience?Icannotbeatmythirdyearclinicalpracticeexperiencewhenwespentacoupleofhoursinabuilder’sutetogoonahomevisit.Aswearrived,freshsconespoppedoutoftheoven.

Words of wisdom for others thinking about a rural health career? Gosomewherewhichappealstoyourinterest.Getyourselfoutthereandconnectwithpeople.Itisokaytospendtimeworkinginacity(Idid).Mostimportantly,don’tdismissschnitzelnightatthelocalfootyclub.

Lookingafteroneselfisjustasimportantforhealthprofessionalsasitisforpatients.SeehowanewprograminSouthAustraliaisaddressingthisissueformedicalstudentsandDoctors…Anewclinicfordoctorsandmedical

studentshasopenedinAdelaidewiththebackingofRDWA,SouthAustralia’sRuralWorkforceAgency.Theclinic,whichaimstotacklepoor

healthandburnoutintheprofession,complementsRDWA’s“DrDOC”wellbeingprogramforruraldoctors.“Havinghealthydoctorsleadsto

healthycommunities,”saysDrKarenSumner,theMedicalDirectoratRDWA.“Healthcareisacorepartofourretentionstrategyforruraldoctorsandwe’redelightedthatthiskindofserviceisnowbeingofferedtoallDoctorsinourstate.”ThenewDoctorsHealthSAclinic

operatesafterhoursandonweekends,makingitconvenientfordoctorstoattend.Theclinicispartofabroaderprogramofservicesthatsitunderthe

bannerofDoctorsHealthSA,including24-hourconfidentialphoneadviceandaninformationwebsite.Akeyaimoftheprogramistohelp

doctorsandmedicalstudentsfindadoctorofchoice,withresearchshowingthatonlyabout60%ofdoctorshavetheirownGP.Forfurtherdetailsgoto

www.doctorshealthsa.com.au

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A l u m n i A c t i o n J u n e 2 0 1 2

Caring for the carers in South Australia

RDWA’sDr Karen Sumner ispicturedatthenewclinicwith Dr Roger Sexton,MedicalDirectorofDoctorsHealthSA.

Dr DOC – just what the doctor orderedRDWA has long recognised the importance of healthcare as part of an integrated approach to retention of doctors in rural communities - alongside locum relief, family support and professional education.That’swhyitestablishedtheDrDOC

(DutyofCare)programmorethan10yearsago.DrDOCsupportsruraldoctorstotakecareofthemselves,theirfamilyandtheircolleagues.

Email [email protected].

AlumniNewsAdvocacy TheNRHSNhascontributedtotheHealthWorkforceAustraliaconsultationprocessforthe Rural and Remote Health Workforce Innovation and Reform Strategy.TheNRHSNcontributionincludesprovidingawrittensubmission,hostingajointconsultationsessioninMelbournewithRuralHealthWorkforceandparticipatingintheExpertReferenceGroup(ExecutiveCo-chairJamesRoth)fortheRural and Remote Health Workforce Innovation and Reform Strategy.ThestrategywillbepublishedontheHWAwebsite. www.hwa.gov.au

Rural Health TV channel launched The RuralHealthEducationFoundationhaslaunchedadedicatedfree-to-airhealthTVchannel(RHC600),theRuralHealthChannel.Formoreinformationvisitwww.rhef.com.au/rhc/

Continuing Education ApplicationsforgrantsinRoundfouroftheRuralHealthContinuingEducation(Stream2)(RHCE2)aredueby8August2012.TheeligiblehealthprofessionsareAboriginalHealthWorkers,alliedhealthprofessionals,nurses,midwivesanddoctors.Formoreinformationvisit rhce.ruralhealth.org.au/

Hip hop and health FormerUniversityofWollongongruralhealthclubmemberMichaelO’Halloranisoneofthepeoplebehindaseriesofclipstacklingsmokingandtrachoma,starringthepeopleofLajamanuandKalkaringi. http://www.kwhb.com.au/72-hip-hop-crew-and-kwhb.html

NRHSN visits School of the Air SixNRHSNmembersconductedavirtualschoolvisitwhentheyparticipatedintheSchooloftheAirassemblyinAliceSpringsduringApril.Theybroadcasttoa‘classroom’of60remotekidsscatteredacrossanareaof1.3millionsquarekilometres.ThevisitwasorganisedbyNTHealthWorkforcewhichhasbeenhostinghighschoolvisitsintheNorthernTerritoryforthepast10years,andtheNationalRuralHealthStudentsNetwork.

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TheNRHSNCouncilincludesfiveportfoliosthatworkcloselywiththeNRHSNExecutivetoensureourcollectivevoiceisheardloudandclearbykeystakeholders.TheCommunityandAdvocacyPortfolio

isadynamicteamthatrepresentsourstudentandAlumnimembersandprovidessupporttotheotherportfolios.Themainstakeholdersweworkwithon

behalfoftheNRHSNaretheNationalRuralHealthAlliance(NRHA)andtheAustralianRuralHealthEducationNetwork(ARHEN).Bothorganisationsarelikelytohavehadsomeroleinhelpingyoualongyourruralhealthcareer.TheNRHSNandRHWaremembersof

theNRHA.TeenaDowntonistheNRHSNrepresentative.ARHENisanorganisationthatbringstogetherthe11UniversityDepartmentsofRuralHealth(UDRH)locatedineverystateandtheNorthernTerritory.ARHENishelpingleadthechargeinprovidingequitableruralplacementopportunitiesforallhealthdisciplines,includingincreasedplacementsfordental.It’sanexcitingtimeinhealthworkforce

reform.Wewanttoensurereformstakeintoaccounttheneedsandexpectationsofourgeneration.How can you get in on the action?CheckouttheNRHSNwebsiteforour

activitiesandlatestpositionpapers.Registerforthe12thNationalRuralHealthConferenceinAdelaidenextMarch.OurrepresentativesontheAdvisoryCommitteeareMitchellMilanovic(NRHSN)andAmyStephenson(NRHSNAlumni).

Email [email protected]

Date Discipline Conference10-11 Aug 2012 All NationalUniversitiesRuralHealthConference,Creswick,VIC17-19 Sep 2012 All SowingtheSeedsofFarmerHealth,Hamilton,VIC19-22 Sep 2012 Nursing CATSINConference,Cairns,QLD20-23 Sep 2012 AlliedHealth SARRAHRuralandRemotePracticeTotallyWild,Launceston,TAS3-7 Oct 2012 Medicine AIDA6thPacificRegionIndigenousDoctorsCongress,Fremantle,WA24-27 Oct 2012 All,Nursing CRANAplus30thAnnualConference,PearlsofWisdom,Cairns,QLD25-27 Oct 2012 Medicine GP12GoldCoast,QLD26-28 Oct 2012 Medicine RuralMedicineAustralia2012,NationalConferenceofRDAA&ACRRM,AliceSprings,NT7-10 Nov 2012 Medicine NationalPrimaryHealthCareConference2012,Adelaide,SA16-18 Nov 2012 Medicine GPCEGeneralPractitionerConference&Exhibition,Melbourne,VIC7-10 April 2013 All NRHANationalRuralHealthConference,Adelaide,SA

Conferences

CommunityandAdvocacy

Driveforchange

TheNationalRuralHealthAllianceisamember-basedorganisationthatadvocatesforimprovedhealthoutcomesinruralcommunities.Thesecrettotheorganisation’ssuccessistheformulathatthealliancesupportsissuesthataffectits33nationalmembers.Eachpositionpaperissupportedbyallmembers—ifnot,theorganisationwalksaway.TheAllianceadvocatesforchangeacrossmanyhealthissuesandestablishedalistofpriorities

duetothediversityofitsmembership.OneofthecurrentissuestheAllianceislookingintoislocumworkandtheimpactof‘flyinandflyout’workpracticesonruralcomunities.The alliance advocates on behalf of early career health graduates for:More intern places, more registrar posts that are rural and regionally base for medical training, more regional and rural specialist places and mentoring for Allied Health and Nursing professionals during their early career in rural and remote locations.

Professor Lesley Barclayisastrongadvocateforruralhealth.LesleychairstheNationalRuralHealthAlliancewhileworkingasDirectoroftheUniversityCentreofRuralHealthNorthCoast.SheseesherroleatNRHAasasynthesis

ofherworkoverthepast20-30yearswhichhasbeendrivenbyadesiretocreatepositivechangeincareforclientsofhealthservices.Thejourneyintoruralhealthbeganwith

atraintrip.Eachschoolholidays,LesleywouldboardatraininMelbourneheadedforCharlton,innorthernVictoria,tovisithergrandparents.HerAuntywasa‘bushnurse’andhergrandparentslivedtwodoorsdownfromthehospital.Theseearlyexperiencesmadean

impression.LesleytrainedasanurseandtookherfirstroleasanurseintheAdelaide

Hills.Soon,Lesleyfollowedherclinicalinterestsintomidwifery.However,witheachroleLesleyidentifiedissueswithinthesystemthatrequiredchange.“Asamidwife,Icouldn’tchangethe

system.Asamidwifeteacher,Icouldn’tchangethesystem.”EventuallyLesleywasdrawnintoresearch

–lookingintosystemsofcareinmaternity,childhealthandutimatelyprimaryhealthinremotelocations.Shespentmuchtimeinthe80sand90sworkingoverseasasatechnicaladvisertoWHO,AusAIDandWorldBank.Then,tooktheroleofChairofHealthServicesDevelopmentinDarwinforfiveyears.OverthisperiodLesleyobserveditwas

difficultfornewhealthgraduatestogetcountryroles.Lesleyisastrongbelieverintheneedformentoringandsupportintheearlycareerphaseforallhealthprofessionals.Somedisciplinessuchasmedicinehavethebenefitofclinicalandbroaderpeersupportbuiltintotheirrole;otherssuchasalliedhealthornursinginremoteAustraliaoftenlackthis.OneoftheissuesthatLesleyis

advocatingforchangeasNRHAchairismoreequityinhowprofessionalslearnaboutandaresupportedinruralhealth.

Teena Downton, Chris Timms, Francesca Garnett and Mitchell Milanovic

LEAP into RURAL HEALTH

Rural Health Workforce

Level 5, 10 Queens RoadMelbourne Vic 3004 Australia

www.nrhsn.org.auTelephone 03 9860 4700Email: [email protected]

rural health workforce

JOIN THE

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NRHSN ALUMNI JOIN THE NRHSN ALUMNINetwork with medical, nursing and allied health members from across AustraliaShare your experiences with other rural health professionalsReceive and contribute to biannual newsletter Grab the opportunity to speak at eventsHost and mentor current NRHSN members on placements AND MORE …

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