Excellence Award

Winner - Gwenda Lawton Gless

New Practitioner Award

Winner - Emma Baylis

Emma is currently working as an Aboriginal Health Worker at Angurugu Health Centre. As a new practitioner, several of her peers and work colleagues commented on her ability to apply her knowledge into practice. This is evident by the number of nominations that were submitted for Emma. Emma has a willingness to learn and expand her knowledge so that she can gain a higher level of expertise and skills.

Emma has decided to further her studies in the New Year and is undertaking her Registered Nurses' studies.

Remote Award

Winner - Alberta Puruntatameri

Alberta was the first Aboriginal Health Worker at the Pirlangimpi Health Centre in the 70's. She was the sole practitioner for the community with a visiting nurse. She has extremely advanced clinical skills and has delivered complex health care including twins, and breech births.

Alberta then moved into the area of health promotion. She worked with mothers and babies, educating families about nutrition, cooking, cleaning programs for people in the Pirlangimpi community.

Alberta has also undertaken CAAPS training and provides support and education to those requiring help dealing with alcohol problems. She continues to be involved in the Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture Program and also assists Red Cross deliver positive parenting classes.

Highly Commended - Bruce Herbert

Originating from his birthplace on Groote Eylandt, Bruce Herbert became an Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) between the mid 60's and early 70's.

Bruce commenced working at Borroloola in the NT. His work led him through in the delivery of Primary Health care, Men's Health and commitment in the diagnosis and treatment for Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) and have had the privilege of working with Dr John Hargraves with other Aboriginal Health Workers.

At times Bruce had committed himself in the joint management of a Health Centre which later recognised him for a role in the AHW Management Committee and later in the NT AHW Advisory Board for Health Workers and continued in one of three operational roles advocating for AHW's in 1985-86.

He has worked at times independently managing the health service as a sole practitioner. He is a highly valued member of the team by his peers and work colleagues.

Bruce is currently working at the Robinson River Health Centre.

Urban Award

Winner - Gwenda Lawton Gless

Gwenda began her career twenty years ago in 1987 as a trainee Aboriginal Health Worker at Anyinginyi Congress. During her career she has worked at Croker Island, Katherine West Health Board, Yarralin, Kalkaringi, Timber Creek and Katherine Hospital. She moved to Danila Dilba in 1992 and then to Wurli Wurlinjang in 1997 as the Women's Health Coordinator.

Gwenda returned to Anyinginyi Health as Clinic Manager in 2000 but it wasn't long before she was approached by Wurli Wurlinjang to consider taking on the role of Clinic Coordinator for the health service. Gwenda was successfully recruited to this position and continues in this role today. Gwenda has 7 Aboriginal Health Workers within the team and she works collaboratively with the Medical Officers within the Wurli Wurlinjang health service.

Highly Commended - Doris Campbell

Doris entered into the Aboriginal Health Worker profession as a mature aged student. She is currently employed as the Senior Aboriginal Health Worker at the Anyinginyi Health Service. Part of her role includes servicing the wider community in the area by running the bush mobile runs to smaller communities and outstations. This service works in the area of up to 100 kilometres from Tennant Creek. She provides a high level of care to all clients especially those with Diabetes, Renal disease and other chronic medical conditions.

Doris has also relieved in the position of Health Services Manager when required.

Specialised Award

Winner - Rosemary Hoffman

Rosemary or Rosie to those who know her, moved from Queensland to the Northern Territory. Before becoming a registered Aboriginal Health Worker, Rosie was an Enrolled Nurse and worked many years in aged care and the hospital settings.

Rosie started work for the Top End Renal services more than 7 years ago. She provides an integral link between the renal unit and the clients who access these services. She is responsible for forging these links particularly with Indigenous patients.

Rosie has undertaken complete management of care delivery to 6 haemodialysis patients. This includes medication, administration of haemodialysis therapy, and fistula care. She promotes patient learning, and independence for each patient. Her commitment ensures that these patients become totally independent of staff during their haemodialysis treatments.

Highly Commended - Patricia Bamal Gamanangga

Pat's family is from an outstation near Milingimbi. Pat began working at the Maningrida Health Centre after her two sons were born. In 1977, Pat moved to Bagot community. She started working at the Bagot Health Centre as an Aboriginal Health Worker in 1980. She continued working there on and off until the early 90's. It was during this time that Pat would go with the other Health Workers to collect bush tucker for the people in the Bagot community. While they were collecting the bush tucker, she began to think about the patients who were in hospital and how they must miss having bush tucker while they were away from their communities. Pat decided to work at the hospital and the bush tucker program was developed. This program used the “both ways” learning approach. Pat would take 4 hospital staff out on a daylong hunting and collecting trip with her as her students. During these trips, Pat would provide cultural information about the food, hunting and cooking methods. She would bring back the food to the hospital where it was prepared, cooked and distributed to Aboriginal in-patients.

Pat also teaches young mothers about traditional bush tucker, nutrition and family stories. She encourages others to continue to maintain their cultural ways. Pat continues to be the bush tucker teacher at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Highly Commended - Sumaria Corpus

Sumaria is one of 11 children. She commenced her Aboriginal Health Worker training in 1999 at Danila Dilba. After 18 months, Sumaria decided to work in remote communities. She worked in Umbakumba, and Belyuen. She returned to Darwin and worked at Bagot Community Health Centre.

Sumaria has also participated in research in Diabetes at Menzies School of Health Research for 12 months. She is currently employed as part of the Diabetes team at Royal Darwin Hospital. She is a member of the multi-disciplinary team that works both in the acute setting and remote communities. As well as this, Sumaria works in the high-risk foot clinic team. She provides direct patient care, sometimes spending hours with a patient doing complex wound care.

Sumaria's love to teach shows in that she has been known to spend hours talking to newly diagnosed diabetics about their care. She provides an advocacy role for the patient to ensure that the best care is delivered to each person. She is willing to share her knowledge with staff members when required.

As well as working in the area of diabetes, Sumaria is also the only Indigenous person to have successfully qualify for certification from the “Hyperbaric Technicians and Nurses Association”. She is an important member of the hyperbaric team and accompanies patients into the hyperbaric chamber for treatment of their chronic wounds. She provides support to these patients who, as you can imagine are often quite frightened by this experience. Sumaria has nearly completed post graduate qualifications in diabetes education, is a member of the wound care group for the Northern Territory and is hoping to undertake further studies in wound care.

Sumaria likes working with all people from all walks of life, but her heart is really about working towards better outcomes for Indigenous people.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.