Federal Health Minister opens Darwin RAHC Office

Launches Certificate of Appreciation for health professionals completing RAHC service

The Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, has officially opened the new Darwin office of the Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) and launched a Certificate of Appreciation to be given to all health professionals completing a primary health care placement in the Northern Territory (NT).

Ms Roxon noted that this occasion followed the recent milestone of RAHC’s 100^th placement. “The Remote Area Health Corps was established with funding from the Federal Government in order to expand and strengthen primary health services for remote Indigenous communities in the NT and to give urban-based professionals the opportunity to contribute to closing the gap.“

 
Ms Roxon officially opened the new RAHC office in Darwin which serves as an anchor for the organization’s NT operations and supports client liaison and strategic partnerships. While visiting the Darwin office, Ms Roxon signed the first of the Certificates of Appreciation and presented them to Ms Marion Brand and Dr David Marris, two health professionals who have recently completed RAHC health placements.

“It is a pleasure to acknowledge and thank the health professionals who are taking up this opportunity and providing support to the health services across the NT. We want to see many more health professionals respond to this opportunity and become part of a growing effort to strengthen and expand health services in remote communities throughout the NT.”

Ms Marion Brand is a Registered Nurse who has completed two RAHC placements and is planning to undertake more. Dr David Marris is a New Zealand trained doctor who has just completed a placement at the Galiwin’ku health center on Elcho Island and is continuing directly on to a second placement at the Mutitjulu health centre at Uluru.

Ms Brand commented that work in remote communities was both rewarding and challenging and enabled her to use her professional skills while learning about Australia’s own Indigenous people and cultures. “I cannot imagine a more satisfying and wonderful way to make a difference.”

Dr Marris thanked the Minister for the acknowledgement and noted how much he was looking forward to the rest of his time with RAHC. “After one placement I can see that this work challenges you as a professional and provides opportunities to use and develop my medical skills. Most importantly, it gives you an enormous sense of satisfaction to see your skills assist others in such rewarding and tangible ways”.

As part of the Federal Government’s Expanding Health Service Delivery Initiative in the NT, RAHC works in partnership with the Aboriginal Medical Services of the NT and the NT Department of Health and Families. The goal of RAHC is to support the expansion and strengthening of primary health services in the NT through the recruitment of general practitioners, registered nurses, dental and allied health professionals into remote Indigenous communities, thereby assisting efforts to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes.

Assignments are paid and run for periods of three weeks to three months. This enables health professionals to maintain their personal and professional obligations at home while participating in efforts to expand and strengthen primary health services in remote communities.