RAHC Team

The Remote Area Health Corps has offices in Canberra, Darwin and Alice Springs. Meet our Team below:

Canberra Team

Dr Lisa Studdert - General Manager
 Dr Studdert comes to RAHC from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) where her most recent position was as Head of Health Programs in Vietnam. Her work included leading projects in the areas of health systems reform, provincial health infrastructure development, health financing, health workforce, nutrition and HIV and AIDS. Lisa has experience in health sector strategic planning and program management with the United Nation’s World Food Programme and UNICEF and was previously an Advisor on public and Indigenous health issues to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Dr Michael Wooldridge. Lisa has a PhD in public health nutrition.

 

Jawad Hayder - Business Manager
Jawad comes to RAHC from Aspen Medical where he previously worked as an Accounts Officer before being promoted to Accountant - Financial Reporting. When RAHC was formed in November of 2008, Jawad was appointed Business Manager. Jawad has a Masters in Accounting, a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Chartered Accountant and is a Member of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP).

 

 

Brooke Sawyer - Marketing Manager
Brooke comes to RAHC after a extensive career in television advertising, news, and program production in both regional and metropolitan markets. Brooke has also been a Marketing Officer and Election Campaign Advisor for a number of political parties as well as a Public Relations Officer in the Australian Army Reserves. Brooke overseas all promotion, advertising and marketing for RAHC and is the point of contact for any media enquires.

 

 

Dr James Ross - Medical Director
MBBS MMED MPH GCert ehealth GAICD AFACHSE FAsMA FAFPHM FAFOEM
James is an Occupational Physician and Public Health Physician, and has spent most of his career in the Australian Defence Force.  He had operational deployments to Iraq and East Timor, and is still a member of the Specialist Reserves.  He was awarded the Commendation for Brave Conduct by disarming a disturbed airman.  He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland through the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health.  After leaving the full time military at the end of 2006, he was the Australasian Medical Director for International SOS, the largest medical assistance company in the world, and then moved to be the first Medical Director for Aspen Medical and RAHC.  He has experience in health services management, aviation medicine, medical research, sports medicine and policy development. James has been recently appointed to the research ethics committee of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

 Annette Walker - People Placement Manager
Annette is a highly experienced People Placement consultant. Before joining RAHC, Annette worked in the recruitment industry managing up to 120 staff for a multi-national company using established strategies proven to optimise recruiting efficiency. Annette has experience in customer service, client relations and staff managment. Annette's role at RAHC is to manage the health services in Central Australia and the health professionals we place in this region. Annette is committed to a high level of customer service and generating successful associations with internal and external stake holders.



Julie Rapson - Senior People Placement Consultant
Julie comes to RAHC after many years of working on Federal Government projects, including work for Centrelink on the Rural and Remote Agents and Access Program. Julie has also worked as a Recruitment Consultant with a large international recruitment company providing contractors into Federal, ACT and NSW Government Departments. Julie then moved into Executive Recruitment which then led to this position in the People Placement Team of RAHC. Julie's role at RAHC is to manage the health services in the Northern Territory's Top End and the health professionals we place in this region.


Tanya Brunt -  People Placement Consultant

 

 

 

 

 

Courtney Chapman - Assistant People Placement Consultant

 

 

 

Northern Territory Team

Philip Roberts -  Northern Territory Manager

Philip Roberts has lived in the Northern Territory since 2003. He worked in government and economic consulting in Darwin before assuming the NT Manager role with RAHC. He has been a member of the Royal Darwin Hospital Board since 2005. Prior to moving to Darwin Philip worked with JP Morgan and Chase Manhattan Bank  in Sydney, New York and London over a period of 16 years.

 
 

Fiona Wake RN - Clinical Manager - Darwin
Fiona’s role with RAHC encompasses clinical support for both health professionals in the field and the health services within the NT and associated communities. Fiona’s passion is now to encourage and support others to be a part of the answer in providing much needed expertise to the current health services throughout remote NT. Fiona believes this offers health professionals an amazing opportunity to make a difference, to experience the challenges & rewards of working within remote communities and to enjoy the adventure and beauty of the Northern Territory.     Fiona is a registered nurse of over 20 years experience in both critical care and community nursing. Fiona has worked in communities all around the NT since 2007, much of that time coordinating hearing & ear, nose and throat services in Central Australia & Top End remote communities. Fiona was inspired by the NT on her first remote nursing placement back in 2007. It challenged and changed her life. In particular, she was inspired by the dedicated staff she worked with and by the community members, beautiful kids and strong families.

Ashley Menz - Regional Coordinator - Top End
With a professional background in training & recruitment, Ashley has been on board with RAHC since our inception & has now returned to Darwin from Alice Springs. After ensuring RAHC became an integral part of the Central Australian remote health scene with 100’s of hours spent on the road liaising with our remote clients & looking after our health professionals, he looks forward to making a further contribution to RAHC's ongoing development, while continuing to serve our clients & staff.

 

Sharon Gibbard RN - Regional Coordinator and Clinical Support Manager - Central Australia & Barkley

 

 

 

Margie Groom - Office & Logistics Coordinator - Darwin

 

 

 

Dr Jane Truscott - Clinical Consultant
PhD, MBA, MS, APRN-BC (USA), NP (Aust)
Dr Truscott is a consultant to the RAHC with TEPL Consulting. Prior to working with the RAHC, Jane worked in a variety of clinical and management roles in Australia and the United States within acute and community health care delivery. She has a PhD in Nursing in which she examined outcomes of a nurse home visitation program model for first time, low-income mothers in the United States.  Jane is currently an advisor to the Queensland Government Health Quality and Complaints Commission and has lead the development and implementation of a chronic disease management program for Indigenous Australians living in Queensland. She is a nurse practitioner with interest in chronic disease management, disease prevention and health promotion strategies in primary health care, and development and implementation of eLearning for health practitioners.