RDWA

Nganampa Health Council Inc

Practice Details

3 Wilkinson Street, Alice Springs NT, 0871

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Business Hours

Monday to Friday - 9.00am to 12.30pm
and 2.00pm to 5.00pm

The Vacancy

Nganampa Health Council is currently seeking a Medical Officer holding general registration with AHPRA for full-time position or short term locum contracts. 

The Practice

Despite working in one of the toughest environments, Nganampa Health Council has a national reputation for developing, managing and sustaining health programs that achieve lasting health improvements for our population. We have a core team of long term and dedicated staff in a range of disciplines that guide program development and provide management support. We are an Aboriginal controlled health service and are governed by an all Aboriginal board of management. Programs are developed incrementally. Decisions are made carefully with wide consultation. We recognise staff as our most important asset and provide competitive salary packages, quality staff housing, generous leave entitlements and where possible flexible staffing arrangements.

Nganampa Health Council has approximately 130 staff including three doctors, two who are general practitioners, with some locum coverage. The doctors are supported by the following key staff:

• 17 community health nurses who are permanently based at our clinics.
• Approximately 20 Aboriginal Health Workers.
• Program staff who in the main are registered nurses, in the areas of Women’s Health, Child Health, Immunisation, Mental Health, Sexual Health, Chronic Disease Management and Eye Health.
• Administration staff who provide support in areas as diverse as vehicle fleet management, purchasing, human resources, and Medicare billing.
• Management staff.

The clinics are open from Monday to Friday 9:00am to 12:30pm and 2:00pm to 5:00pm. After hours, is provided 24 hours and Doctors are on call for medical emergencies with some limited capacity to share this with other Doctors.

Nganampa Health Council’s Mission Statement is that we will:

• Improve the health status of Anangu
• Deliver a comprehensive primary health care service to residents of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands
• Provide quality clinical health care and health education
• Run sustainable health programs
• Balance the budget and minimise costs
• Evaluate the health care services and programs
• Attempt to gain resources to meet the needs of all communities, including homelands
• Encourage training and development of its staff

Full-time doctors based on the APY Lands will receive six weeks annual leave plus three weeks recreational leave and two weeks study leave, 15 days sick leave and are eligible for long service leave after seven years.

Although our preference is to find a doctor interested in working for us fulltime, we are also interested in speaking to doctors who are willing to undertake regular locum work for us.  

Discover the APY Lands

Photo: John Sones, Singing Bowl Media

The APY Lands are home to a permanent population of approximately 2,200 people with an additional 700 classified as visitors. The APY Lands covers an area of approximately 105,000 square kilometres. The nearest major regional centre is Alice Springs, which is some 400 to 700 kilometres away from the major communities. All communities are at least 1,100 kilometres from Adelaide. Our Doctors are generally responsible for two communities each, with each community having a population of between 200 – 500 people.

As is common with remote area Aboriginal communities, the APY Lands can be characterised as having high rates of poverty, poor health and educational outcomes, and poor levels of social and physical infrastructure. English is in the main a second language with Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara the dominant languages. The population live a semi-traditional lifestyle with the traditional culture still playing a large and important part in everyday life. There is an important art movement with art centres in most of the major population centres. The APY Lands consist of spectacular desert scenery including the Everard, Musgrave and Mann ranges. This position would be of interest to a person with an interest in making a difference in Aboriginal health, who is looking for a challenge and has an interest in experiencing a unique desert environment and unique culture.

The main source of industry and employment in the area is service to the Aboriginal people.

There are swimming pools in Amata, Mimili and Pipalyatjara. Most communities have football ovals although these generally are not grassed. The APY Lands provide some excellent opportunities for camping and experiencing the outdoors.

Most communities have well established and known art centres.

Entertainment facilities are somewhat limited. Nganampa Health Council provides ADSL connections in staff houses and digital television access.

Places of interest nearby include, Uluru, Kata-Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Dalhousie and the Oodnadatta track. 

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