Tony Ferris

Dr Tony Ferris, 58, GP, based in Toowoomba, Queensland

“The most rewarding part of my placement with RAHC was to be directly involved in the process of ‘closing the gap’”.  Dr Tony Ferris had a desire to return to the Northern Territory since working there a few years ago.  Like many people, he couldn’t easily leave behind his family commitments and a busy general practice, even for a short time. 

When RAHC approached Tony to work in Lajamanu, a community on the edge of the Tanami, 550 kilometres south west of Katherine, for a short placement he agreed readily.  “Trying to organise oneself in a busy life to actually get out there is the first barrier.  I loved the remoteness and I have always had an interest in remote Aboriginal health and Indigenous culture, I really wanted the opportunity to give something back to this community”.

Tony was pleased with his accommodation which had everything he needed. The medical facilities that were available, although slowly improving, did not provide the standard or variety of facilities he was used to in Toowoomba, understandably.  Tony relished the challenges this presented:  “I was often using and relying on my own clinical skills in this environment, a lot more than I normally would in my general practice”.

In comparison to his previous healthcare experiences in the Northern Territory, Tony thought the work RAHC offered was a much more of a primary healthcare service.  He comments: “Working with other healthcare workers in the NT was generally a satisfying experience, particularly the district medical officers who were very helpful and positive towards the work we were doing”.

Tony believes the initiative will ultimately benefit the Indigenous communities: “From a psychological point of view, many women in the community feel like they’re being supported and are not as forgotten out there as they have previously felt”. 

Tony thinks the children particularly will benefit from the health checks and from the subsequent follow up from the overall initiative.  His advice for any other doctors thinking of going to the Northern Territory is simple: “Get out there”.