Speak Out low res October 2016

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32 Speak Out October 2016
The 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.”
“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.”
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.
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
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