Speak Out October 2016

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T he 2016 Northern Territory (NT) Health Professional of the Year Awards were announced at the Compass Teaching and Learning Conference Gala Dinner in Darwin in May. The awards recognise health professionals practising in the NT who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the health and well-being of the community. In her role as manager of speech pathology and audiology, Amanda O’Keefe has made a significant contribution to the services at Royal Darwin Hospital, guiding the development of specialist speech pathology services within a generalist caseload, as well as developing networks between allied health departments and medical teams. Amanda has also been involved in furthering allied health networks across the NT over the past 10 years. She is currently working on developing telehealth for rural and remote communities across allied health not just speech pathology. A colleague nominated Amanda for the award. “I am very excited and humbled to win. I think though everyone I work with should get the award to. I think in rural and remote areas, which are less resourced, there are more challenges, and allied health professionals here all go over and above their job descriptions.” The NT sense of community drives Amanda to do more for her patients, and she is hands-on in her role. “You just don’t worry so much what your job is, you worry more about what is good for the client.” Client focused and driven toward equal access, 2016 Northern Territory Allied Health Professional of the Year Amanda O’Keefe reflects on her award and what drives her in her work. Driven regional advocate

Amanda O’Keefe accepts her award from Board Director Dr Andrew Bell. Dr Andrew Bell is a public health physician and general practitioner who currently works as a part time senior rural medical practitioner with the NT Department of Health, and previously worked with Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT) as a public health specialist with a focus on regional health service development.

“My overwhelming feeling is that it is great to have the allied health awards to promote the great work of professionals in the NT. There is huge reward and job satisfaction working across rural and regional Australia. If you know where to look there is lots of support.” Amanda began her career in rural Victoria, in Melbourne and later spent time working in a remote location in the North Coast of Scotland. “That gave me the flavour of rural and remote practice,” Amanda said, “it wasn’t something that I actively or consciously thought about, but it was about the lifestyle you have working in rural and remote areas.” After making the decision to move from Melbourne a friend alerted her to a position at Royal Darwin Hospital. “A friend found the ad on the floor of a tram on a torn up piece of newspaper. I had made the decision to move away from the city, but overseas wasn’t an option. I’d never been to Darwin before, and I thought I’d just apply to see if I get it.” Shortly after accepting the role she packed up her unit, put her belongings on a truck and headed to Darwin. While today she is delighted with the opportunities she has had living and working in Darwin, the early days in a new city were challenging. “It is a small city, but I must say I experienced culture shock much more than I did when I moved to England. Even though it is the same country it has a very different culture. On day two I sat out the front of the hospital and cried and thought, ‘What am I doing here?’ I couldn’t believe I was here.”

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October 2016 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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