Thomas Carr is a Podiatrist from the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria who began his career working at St Vincents Hospital (Melbourne) and Monashlink Community Health after graduating from Latrobe University. Read on below to find out how he became involved in Indigenous health and to hear his reflection on working in Indigenous communities as an allied health professional.

In 2009 I submitted a proposal to the Department of Human Services which was accepted, and saw me volunteer at a dialysis clinic in the town of Miri, Sarawak. Whilst there, I collected data on the presentation of risk factors for foot ulceration in individuals living with chronic kidney disease, as well as assisting with clinical duties where possible. On returning to Melbourne, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to present my findings and discuss my experience at the Annual APODA (Australian Podiatry Association) conference in Victoria.

Eighteen months on, after sparking an interest in rural and remote health care I signed a contract with RAHC (Remote Area Health Corps). This placed me with the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, based in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory. During this placement, my days were spread between the Regional Remote Health Service, the Anyinginyi Medical Clinic and the Tennant Creek Renal Unit.

With the prevalence of diabetes alarmingly high in Indigenous communities, my time was predominantly spent undertaking diabetic foot checks, assessing for peripheral neuropathy, vascular insufficiencies and aiding in the assessment and treatment of diabetic foot ulceration. This was by no means the only clinical presentation however, and I also dealt with sport related injuries, orthotic inserts, and education provision amongst other lower limb complaints.

In these settings, a multi-disciplinary approach to health care cannot be emphasised enough, given the complex medical issues requiring treatment. Being a small community everyone seems to know one another, so it’s a fantastic social environment. The majority of working professionals in Tennant Creek are away from their families and friends, so we make up for it by constantly arranging social events to keep ourselves entertained.

Prior to starting in Tennant Creek, I was advised to always “expect the unexpected”, which could not be more accurate. I have no need for a diary to record appointment times as clients will simply show up whenever it suits, and fail to attend at all other times.  I am constantly challenged and exposed to conditions I have had little to no experience with and have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and I never know quite what to expect, which makes for a dynamic and stimulating working environment.

Find out more about working for Remote Area Health Corps at http://www.rahc.com.au/ .

Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) was established in 2009 with the purpose of achieving an equitable standard of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI).

They work to achieve this purpose through advocating for the provision of more allied health services to ATSI communities, providing high quality training for allied health providers working in this setting, as well as ongoing support for these individuals. IAHA enjoys support from some of the leading allied health professional bodies in Australia including the Optometrists Assosciation of Australia, Audiology Australia, the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

The IAHA website provides opportunities for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians interested in allied health to network and share information and ideas, as well as a wealth of information about the variety of allied health roles, training and scholarship opportunities and links to other relevant institutions. The website provides videos of passionate Indigenous allied health professionals sharing their career paths, which is a great source of inspiration, particularly for those who are yet undecided about which area of allied health they would like to pursue. For those further along their career path, there are links to placement, scholarship and job opportunities for working with ATSI communities.

You can explore the IAHA website at http://www.indigenousalliedhealth.com.au/ or for those looking to get more involved, details for becoming a member are available at http://www.indigenousalliedhealth.com.au/get_involved/index.cfm?loadref=5 .