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32

Speak Out

October 2016

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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.”

“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

advocate

Member

profile