Alan Wilson
Alan Wilson, a registered nurse from Sydney, has worked with RAHC since 2009. Alan is one of a growing example of dedicated RAHC health professionals taking up regular repeat placements in the same remote Indigenous community. In April 2011 Alan will complete his 7th RAHC placement for the Anyinginyi Regional Remote Health Service in communities across the Barkly region in Central Australia.
Alan’s commitment to assisting people in the Barkly region has helped him forge a special relationship with the local Indigenous communities, based on mutual trust and friendship. Alan’s repeat placements to the Barkly region has allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the communities in the area, their health needs and priorities, and the value placed on being an honest communicator.
Alan is committed to providing remote area nursing services and finds the RAHC model suits his professional and personal circumstances. RAHC placements enable Alan to have extended periods in communities across Barkly combined with regular return trips back home to Sydney to see his family and friends.
For success in remote environments, Alan suggests, ‘The individual should be flexible, resilient and have an appreciation and respect for cultural differences’.
Another trait Alan believes is vital when working in remote Indigenous communities is the ability to speak ‘straight’, be direct and compassionate with patients, and ensure they understand what is being relayed to them.
One story Alan shares with RAHC is his new found friendship with not just the local people but the local animals. While on placement in 2010, Alan’s partner Christina came to Tennant Creek to visit him and found three stray small pups on the train tracks. When she tried to remove them, one particular puppy was quite stubborn and would not leave. However when Christina walked away, she turned around to see that puppy barking and following her. She took it back to Alan and convinced him to keep the dog, now named, ‘Jackie’. Every night for six weeks Alan washed the dog in borax, peroxide and mild shampoo and to his disbelief, black hair began to grow. When Alan returned home to Sydney he brought ‘Jackie’ with him and before long she had the family wrapped around her paw.
Jackie is now a loving dog with black fur and a single white blaze on her chest. Alan says, ‘I have gained a wonderful friend and mate who keeps me on my toes, gives me something to do, makes sure I exercise regularly and likes the same food as I do. She loves being in the bush as much as I do; which is every spare minute’.
Alan believes the work he and other RAHC health professionals are doing on placements is benefiting communities because it provides them with additional access to health care. Alan relishes his time at Tennant Creek and in late 2010 his contribution was recognised by the Tennant Creek community when he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Anyinginyi Health Centre.
