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Edition 4 - January | February | March 2017
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A message from our CEO
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It seems only a short while ago I was sending festive wishes and here we are, at the beginning of March delivering our first issue of North of 26˚ for 2017 which I am pleased to present.
In this edition, General Practitioner, Dr Chris Clohesy, shares his love of remote work in the Northern Territory and his connection to our communities that has spanned three decades.
You might recall in our last issue, I spoke about NT PHN’s additional training and education events for 2017. I am proud to report on our recent launch of Pop-up PHN – a collaboration between NT PHN and NTGPE. Held in Alice Springs, the Pop-up PHN is the the first in a series of professional development events we are offering to GPs, nurses and allied health professionals working across the NT.
In this issue, we feature a story that highlights an after-hours social work service funded by NT PHN, that is helping families and individuals in Tennant Creek affected by domestic and sexual assault.
You can read more about NT PHN’s support of health industry professionals through a grant that enabled three Territory practice managers to travel to Melbourne and attend the Australian Association of Practice Management conference.
It is always heartening when organisations are acknowledged and awarded for their work to improve rural and remote health care. Find out how Western Desert Dialysis won an Indigenous Governance Award.
NT PHN’s Executive Manager Regional Partnerships and Procurement, Le Smith explains the importance of NT PHN’s co-design approach to achieve an integrated health service system.
Lastly, I invite you to watch our new CEO Monthly Message – a short, informative video that showcases our stakeholder collaborations, events and achievements.
For regular updates on NT PHN, follow us on LinkedIn or @ntphn on Twitter.
We hope you enjoy this issue of North of 26˚.
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Nicki Herriot |
CEO – Northern Territory PHN |
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Dr Chris Clohesy divides his time between Milingimbi and Nhulunbuy
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The privilege of remote GP work
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Being the only doctor in a small remote town is not for the faint hearted. But for Dr Chris Clohesy it has been a lifetime calling that started some 30 years ago when he landed in Darwin as a medical school graduate.
“It was the 80’s and the Northern Territory was a vast and mysterious place - I had no idea what to expect but I was pretty excited,” Chris said.
This was a pivotal moment at the very beginning of Chris’ career, landing straight into the hands of Dr Alan Walker AM, who was the much-loved head of pediatrics at the Royal Darwin Hospital at the time.
“Alan took me under his wing and shared with me his passion for improving the health of Indigenous Australians – I remember feeling absolutely inspired,” he said.
It was during this time that Chris rotated to Katherine under the mentorship of Dr James Scatinni AM, who provided a long and committed service as a doctor to the community of Katherine and beyond.
“Jim remains one of my most important mentors and was the supervising GP when I delivered my very first baby – a special memory indeed,” Chris said.
It was these two inspiring Territorian doctors that shaped Chris’s love of remote NT, with their influence paving the way for more than 30 remote GP Locum placements over the course of Chris’s career.
With his roots well and truly embedded in Territory soil, it is no surprise that Chris maintained an emotional connection to this place even when life called him elsewhere.
“We followed opportunities to Queensland and then Adelaide, but my heart has always stayed in the Territory,” Chris said.
So of course, he returned.
Having spent the last two years in the community of Ngukurr - a remote Aboriginal community on the banks of the Roper River in southern Arnhem land - Chris now splits his time between Milingimbi and Nhulunbuy.
Chris believes working in these remote communities is so important, but not for the reasons one might expect.
“Improving the health and wellbeing of people in these communities is the number one driver of course, but the personal growth you experience is immeasurable,” he said.
“Being a remote GP is such a privilege, you become part of a community and experience things that remain a part of you long after you leave.”
With stress and isolation a constant challenge, what advice does Chris have for GPs who are considering working remotely in the Territory?
“With the right amount of determination and a dose of reality, remote GP work is amazing and challenging, and will change the way you see the world,” Chris said.
“There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears in remote GP work, but you get back more than you give,” he said.
To find out more about becoming a GP or GP locum in the Northern Territory contact NT PHN’s Workforce Recruitment team.
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Health professionals attend the Pop-up PHN workshop
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Health professionals attend Pop-up PHN launch at Alice Springs
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NT PHN is hosting a series of local visits across the Territory in partnership with Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) mobile offices until mid 2017.
Starting in Alice Springs, then moving through Katherine, Nhulunbuy and finally onto Darwin, the Pop-up PHN provides training and networking opportunities for GPs, nurses and allied health professionals across the NT.
Executive Manager Workforce, Susi Wise, said that the Pop-up PHN series supports NT PHN’s aim to work more collaboratively with stakeholders across the Territory.
“For primary health care to be at its best here we need to spread our wings far and wide, and learn more about primary health issues from a local perspective,” Susi said.
“Only when we sit down and talk to local practitioners can we work together to identify and address issues at the local level,” she said.
“This is what we call a ‘collaborative approach’ to primary health care and what drives us here at NT PHN.”
The visits include an NTGPE-led one-day GP Supervisor Professional Development workshop which is followed by NT PHN facilitating a one-day Continuing Professional Development workshop. A networking dinner allows practitioners to come together and share information and experiences.
While in these locations, NT PHN hopes to visit local practitioners to discuss local matters.
Chief Executive Officer, Nicki Herriot, said that the NT PHN-facilitated workshop will focus on primary health care reform, including a look at Health Care Homes and HealthPathways. There will also be training offered in the areas of women’s health, mental health and alcohol and other drugs.
“These are issues at the heart of rural and remote primary health care, so I encourage local practitioners to attend and learn more about the changes,” Nicki said.
This series is one of many NT PHN organises and promotes throughout the year.
For more information contact NT PHN on 8982 1000 or education@ntphn.org.au
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Social workers, Prabhu Maligapou, Susan Cooper and Melanie Usher based at the Tennant Creek Hospital
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After-hours family and domestic violence support provided at Tennant Creek
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Since 2015, a 24-hour on-call social work service for individuals and families affected by family and domestic violence and sexual assault has been operating at the Tennant Creek Hospital, funded by NT PHN in partnership with the Central Australian Health Services.
The service operates all year, providing victims and their families access to bedside counselling, safety planning and referral support. Social workers are also available to provide professional advice to clinical staff as required.
Social worker, Susan Cooper, Coordinator of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Social Work Services, said the greatest value of the 24-hour on-call role is the timeliness it offers.
“We provide a direct service to vulnerable patients at a time it is most needed. We have a window of opportunity to support patients with ongoing safety and links into community support prior to leaving the hospital,” Susan said.
“In addition to supporting victims, we have been requested to assist perpetrators of violence when they have reached out for help to change their behavior. It can help break the cycle of violence.”
The social work service works closely with key providers in Tennant Creek and through this dialogue partnerships have been strengthened between the hospital and community services.
In December 2016 alone, the service received 25 referrals, almost 70 per cent for people under the age of 26. The overwhelming majority of clients are Indigenous women and children.
Tennant Creek Hospital General Manager, Michele Smith, said that the role has allowed the early intervention in family, domestic and sexual violence and this has helped maximise the uptake of referral pathways.
“The social worker connects victims and families to appropriate health services and provides support to the community in the way that they deserve,” she said.
The service is currently planning an evaluation to assess its effectiveness.
NT PHN’s After Hours program currently funds 14 partners delivering 15 projects in a diverse range of areas, including social work, pharmacy, pathology and GP services. It also provides support to several Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services operating through the Territory.
The Central Australia Health Service is governed by a Statutory Board and is responsible for the Alice Springs and Tennant Creek Hospitals. It has a primary role in health service delivery in the region, including primary health care mental health, oral health, cancer screening services and alcohol and other drug services.
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The Australian Association of Practice Management in October 2016
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Territorian practice managers receive interstate training through NT PHN grant
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Three Territorian practice managers attended the Australian Association of Practice Management (AAPM) 2016 Annual Conference in Melbourne in late October, under a grant provided by NT PHN Practice Support.
Clare Fuller, Una Farlow and Jacqueline Brandner attended the leading conference for health professionals, which delivered five days of comprehensive education workshops, networking opportunities and inspiring keynote speakers.
Executive Manager Workforce, Susi Wise, said that NT PHN is pleased to support local general practitioners across the Territory by offering grants that cover course fees, and subsidise travel and accommodation expenses.
“It’s important Territory practice managers attend these conferences to build their management skills and learn about new technologies, which can assist in improved patient outcomes,” Susi said.
Feedback from Ms Fuller, Ms Farlow and Ms Brandner revealed that the conference was highly valuable for them all.
“With modern technology developing fast, it was great to attend an event where technology, change and core values were the theme,” said Clare.
“The plenary session lead by Matina Jewell challenged me on a personal and professional level to become a better leader in my community,” she said.
As a Corporate Member of AAPM, NT PHN hopes to again offer grants for attendance at the 2017 AAPM Annual Conference, being held from 24 to 27 October in Perth, Western Australia.
NT PHN will inform practices when these grants become available.
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Sarah Brown, CEO Western Desert Dialysis; Professor Mick Dodson, Chair of the Indigenous Governance Awards; Marlene Spencer, Vice-Chair Western Desert Dialysis. Photo courtesy of Wayne Quilliam, Reconciliation Australia
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Bringing kidney dialysis to remote communities
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Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation – also known as Western Desert Dialysis – has won a prestigious Indigenous Governance Award for bringing kidney dialysis to remote Territory communities.
A well-respected Aboriginal organisation, Western Desert Dialysis is the winner of the 2016 Indigenous Governance Awards in Category A.
Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Brown, said that the team was thrilled by the win, with Western Desert Dialysis’ beginnings rooted in response to a very strong desire by a remote community to have access to dialysis and renal treatment on Country and in Community.
“Before our service was established, Aboriginal people had to leave their homes and families to access treatment in faraway places, and this was very upsetting,” Sarah said.
“It was 16 years ago that Aboriginal people from a remote part of Australia said enough is enough, and from there came the determination to establish renal dialysis and treatment closer to home."
“Two years later and we had our first mobile dialysis machine, from funds raised by the community - and the rest as they say is history.”
Since the commencement of dialysis treatment in Kintore in 2004, they have grown to have dialysis units in eight remote communities, as well as the Purple House in Alice Springs.
Feedback from the awards’ judging panel credited the management style, the drive for better ways of doing things and capacity building initiatives as part of Western Desert Dialysis’ success. The ability to overcome bureaucratic and other hurdles, both through fund raising and influence, was also credited by the panel.
NT PHN CEO, Nicki Herriot, congratulated Western Desert Dialysis on their win, and said the organisation is a wonderful example of Indigenous governance and leadership in action.
“Congratulations to the team for demonstrating outstanding leadership. You should be proud of your win,” Nicki said.
“By bringing kidney dialysis to remote communities, Western Desert Dialysis has helped remote communities enjoy their best health and wellbeing – which is a vision for the Territory that we at NT PHN share,” Nicki said.
The Indigenous Governance Awards identify, celebrate and promote effective Indigenous governance across Australia. They shine a light on strong leadership, good management, effective partnerships and brave creative thinking practiced in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.
To find out more about Western Desert Dialysis, visit westerndesertdialysis.com
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Executive Manager Regional Partnership and Procurement, Le Smith and After Hours Senior Project Officer, Rebecca Bradley at an evaluation workshop with NT PHN stakeholders
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Collaboratively co-designing primary health care solutions across the Territory
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People enjoying their best health and wellbeing in the Territory is a vision NT PHN takes seriously, but it’s not something that can be achieved alone.
Executive Manager Regional Partnerships and Procurement, Le Smith, said that a partnership approach to support an integrated service system is the only way NT PHN can deliver on this vision.
“It makes sense for us to work closely with key partners and stakeholders - including clinicians, service providers, communities, consumers and peak bodies - to ensure service models are appropriate and locally acceptable,” Le said.
“Working in a collaborative manner results in better outcomes. Co-designing services allows a range of perspectives to be considered to ensure service models meet consumer, service and community needs.”
“It also enables strong stakeholder input in the process resulting in an agreed solution that’s owned by everyone,” she said.
NT PHN recently employed a co-design approach to service design in the development of a model for the Primary Mental Health Care Activity and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Activity Funding for Aboriginal people.
“We used a collaborative co-design approach for the development of a Social Emotional Wellbeing model with a range of key stakeholders which took many months to work through - but in the end we have a great outcome that is strongly supported,” said Le.
“We worked closely with the Northern Territory Aboriginal Forum which is the key Aboriginal health planning forum in the Northern Territory, so they were the right group for us to work with to co-design this approach."
Co-design is a participatory process by which parties work together in an equal and reciprocal manner to derive a solution that is better than any that could have been derived alone. It is an approach that actively involves stakeholders with knowledge from a range of perspectives in the design process to help ensure the results meet needs, are appropriate, inclusive and usable.
“It is an exciting and innovative approach to problem solving that NT PHN believes will help deliver better health outcomes across the Territory,” Le said.
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Health Service District Maps
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NT PHN, with assistance from the NT Department of Health, have recently created two map resources showing the Territory's regions and health landscape to inform ongoing planning.
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NT PHN Strategic Plan
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View the NT PHN 2015–18 Strategic Plan which demonstrates our strategic intent and direction.
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Northern Territory PHN provides this publication as a free information service to subscribers and does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of third party information or for advice regarding external activities.
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Health Network Northern Territory Ltd operating as Northern Territory PHN
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Darwin
23 Albatross Street, 0822
Darwin PO Box 2562, 0801
t 08 8982 1000
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Alice Springs
Remote Health Precinct, 5 Skinner Street, 0870
Alice Springs PO Box 1195, 0870
t 08 8950 4800
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ABN 17 158 970 480
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