For the first time in Australia, first-year doctors will undergo dedicated accredited Aboriginal health intern placements, to gain a strong understanding of Aboriginal health and to encourage future careers in this specialised area.
The Aboriginal Primary Health Internship is a collaboration between the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) and Adelaide Primary Health Network (PHN), who have jointly funded the $120,000 program.
Guided by Aboriginal health practitioners, five interns will rotate through NALHN’s Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health service, to gain in-depth knowledge on culturally appropriate health care, connection to country, and the barriers to health care for First Nations Australians.
The Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health service provides comprehensive, primary health care including heath assessments, chronic disease education and management, men’s and women’s health, mental health care, occupational therapy, and cardiology.
It includes a residential service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who travel to Adelaide for complex medical treatment. The service also works closely with NALHN’s Aboriginal Emergency Department Access Team, Kumangka Padninthi.
Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health has four locations, including Maringga Turtpandi at Hillcrest, Muna Paiendi at Elizabeth Vale, Wonggangga Turtpandi at Port Adelaide and Kanggawodli at Dudley Park.
Each intern will take part in a 10-week placement at Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health over a 12-month period, with the first placement starting on Monday 16 January 2023.
Quotes attributable to NALHN Executive Director of Aboriginal Health, Kurt Towers
We welcome this internship program that will give our first-year doctors the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of Aboriginal health and hopefully attract them to work in this field in years to come.
I have no doubt this experience will broaden their cultural awareness and ultimately make them stronger medical professionals.
I would like to thank the team at Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health and the Adelaide PHN for their efforts to deliver this important internship program.
Quotes attributable to NALHN Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health Medical Head of Unit, Dr Md Moniruzzaman
We have one of the most successful First Nations health models in metropolitan South Australia, and intern placements at Watto Purrunna will enable our junior doctors to strengthen their understanding of the health challenges that First Nations Australians often face.
This internship program provides medical students with significant experience embedded in our Aboriginal Health service, to educate them and enhance the future care of our patients into the future.
Quotes attributable to Adelaide PHN Chief Executive Officer, Michelle McKay
Aboriginal health is a key priority area for Adelaide PHN and we are excited to work with our partners on an opportunity that strengthens the workforce and provides culturally safe and quality health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
