Kristy Robinson

Kristy Robinson, Nurse, age 31.  Based in Nowra, NSW.  Has been a nurse for five years

“The community becomes my family when I am working in the Territory.  It becomes hard to leave when you have spent several months living and working so closely with people, but you can always go back.”  Kristy Robinson, a nurse based in Nowra in New South Wales has recently returned from a three-month placement with RAHC in Ampilatwatja and Elcho Island.  She has been touched and rewarded by the experience and has decided to return to Elcho Island, by invitation from the permanent healthworkers in the community, for an additional four weeks in May.

“I find the work far more rewarding than my day to day job in Nowra” Kristy explains.  “People in the communities where I have been working genuinely need our help and care and we can make a real difference to the immediate health challenges facing them.”

During the course of her placement Kristy delivered three babies as well as providing primary healthcare support to children, educating communities about women’s health, men’s health, diabetes and conducting school screening programs. Kristy says: “Watching the kids put on weight and look visibly healthier is one of the biggest rewards for me.  When you can see the changes happening before your eyes it really brings home the difference you can make.  It’s a small difference in the grand scheme of things but a big difference to the individuals you are helping.”

GPs and nurses that have completed RAHC placements in the Northern Territory explain that the role is as much about health education as it is delivering immediate healthcare.  “Encouraging them to come in for check-ups, to take their medication and explaining why this is important means that we can start providing a longer-term benefit” she says.

Kristy, who completed her first remote healthcare placement three years ago, knew what to expect when working in the Northern Territory.  But her experiences with RAHC were different from other health agencies.

“The registration process with RAHC was very easy and straightforward”, she comments.  “I found the set-up at RAHC very supportive and smooth running.  My experiences have been different to other agencies I’ve worked with – the team at RAHC are much more hands on and stay in contact with you in the run up to and throughout the placement to ensure you are comfortable with the role. I felt in very good hands. 

“I think the short-term placements can deliver long-term value to the communities who need it most.  The drive to place more health professionals on the ground is working and the short-term nature of the work means that it is much easier for permanent workers to get involved.” 

And for those who are considering getting involved: “It’s demanding work so you must have an interest in wanting to help people, but the rewards both personally and professionally and the difference you can make to communities makes it so worthwhile.  Learn as much as you can before hand and take part in a cultural awareness program, like the ones at RAHC, to understand the differences: how to dress, how behave and speak with people.  Then get in there and do it – don’t be worried about whether you know enough or question if you can really help.  You are fully supported along every step of the way.  I’ll be coming back for a long time to come.”