Indigenous health initiative fills another 500 health professional placements in remote NT

As we mark National Close the Gap Day, Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) is proud to announce that it has already filled another 500 short-term health professional placements in remote Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory (NT) this financial year as part of the effort to Close the Gap in Indigenous health outcomes.

RAHC was established in late 2008 to recruit urban-based health professionals, General Practitioners (GPs), Registered Nurses/Midwives, Oral Health and Allied Health professionals to provide primary health care on short-term, paid placements in remote Indigenous communities in the NT.

RAHC Chairman, Dr Tony Austin AM says “I’m delighted to announce Dr Chris Hampshire, a GP from inner-city Sydney with a passion for Indigenous health, is our 500^th placement this financial year bringing our total placements since our launch in October 2008 to well over 1400”.

Dr Hampshire is working alongside the dedicated local health centre staff at the Pintubi Homelands Health Service in the remote community of Kintore (Walungurra) some 530 km to the west of Alice Springs.

Dr Austin says “I would like to express my appreciation and congratulations to the many outstanding health professionals who have been a part of this important milestone and continue to work to help Close the Gap. I would also like to recognise the tremendous support provided by our stakeholders such as the Department of Health and Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT (AMSANT) and the health services across Australia and their staff who are so generous in supporting RAHC staff to achieve successful placements.”

Urban-based health professionals who want to make a difference are encouraged to get involved now and visit the RAHC website (www.rahc.com.au) to register their interest. They are also invited to complete our free online clinical e-learning modules in remote and Indigenous health and acquire CPD points.

RAHC supports health professionals throughout their placements with high quality pre-deployment cultural and clinical orientation programs and 24/7 support while on placements.