Dental boost for Indigenous Health Initiative in NT

The Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) is now calling on all dental health professionals in Australia to be involved in the urgent campaign to help "Close the Gap" in healthcare in the Northern Territory. As part of the Federal Government's Expanding Health Service Delivery Initiative (EHSDI), RAHC is working in partnership with the Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) of the NT and the NT Department of Health and Families (NTDHF) to expand and support primary health services in the area and oral health care forms an important extension of the program.

The recent budget announcement confirmed that Australian government funding for RAHC will be ongoing for at least another year to continue the work it has been carrying out in the NT to date. Since its inception at the end of 2008, the RAHC program has placed more than 65 healthcare professionals from a range of backgrounds and locations throughout Australia. Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have been placed into a total of 26 communities across the NT to provide immediate support for primary health services in the area; and RAHC is receiving new requests for information about the available work placements daily.*

The RAHC program initially started out to attract urban-based doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to work in primary health services for Indigenous people in remote areas of the NT. The paid assignments are for short periods of 3 weeks up to 4 months enabling health professionals to maintain their obligations at home while participating in efforts to expand and strengthen health services in remote areas.

Dr Lisa Studdert, RAHC's General Manager says: "The extension of the RAHC services to include dental health provision was a direct response to the requests of local communities in the NT.

"We're making some good inroads and improving our ability to respond to the most urgent calls for support to primary health services. Adding dentists, dental nurses and dental healthcare professionals to the list of skilled workers RAHC places will expand the range of expertise that we can place into the region and strengthen healthcare provision in the area."

The RAHC has had placements in Angurugu, Adelaide River, Millingimbi, Umbakumba, Pirlangimbi, Milikapiti, Wadeye, Alyangula, Lajamanu, Yarralin, Timber Creek, Ngukurr, Ampilatwatja, Galiwinku, Anyinginyi, Urapuntja, Malabam, Santa Teresa, Amoonguna, Areyonga, CAMHS, Pintubi, Binjari, Yuendumu, Kalkaringi and Elliot.

For more information, see www.rahc.com.au