NWRH has been named Rural/Remote Health Employer of the Year at the inaugural National Rural and Remote Health Awards hosted in Canberra on Monday November 13th.

Celebrating the nation’s most devoted health professionals and organisations making a positive impact on rural and remote healthcare; the Awards consisted of 10 categories ranging from Rural/Remote Aged and Disability Carer of the Year, through to Rural/Remote Multidisciplinary Collaboration of the Year.

Hosted by Rural Health Pro; a network of healthcare professionals and organisations boasting more than 100 partners across multiple sectors who care about keeping rural communities healthy, the awards ceremony hosted at Parliament House was attended by healthcare providers from right across the country.

Supporting healthier people; physically, socially and emotionally and harnessing a multidisciplinary allied health team that provides services from Birdsville through to the Gulf of Carpentaria, NWRH was acknowledged for providing culturally appropriate and targeted services to more than 50 remote and isolated First Nation’s communities throughout North and West Queensland since 1993.

Celebrated for providing a wraparound model of care that encompasses allied health, home and community supports, mental health and wellbeing services, with service hubs located in Mount Isa, Longreach, Townsville, Mackay, Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Georgetown, Normanton and Cloncurry; the NWRH teams work to create a positive workplace culture where retention and becoming an employer of choice is a focus were stand out factors to their award success.

NWRH Executive Manager Allied Health and Community Services, Rahni Cotterill, said the organisation “believes that if we can create an environment where our staff have autonomy, supportive structures, professional development opportunities and a strong purpose of providing health care services to those experiencing health disparities; our health professionals will stay for longer,” Rahni said.

“This then has a flow on effect for rapport building, continuity of care, retention of community and corporate knowledge and less gaps in service delivery.”
Attending the Award ceremony in Canberra, NWRH Chief Executive Officer John Cain spoke of their “incredible honor” being awarded the Rural Remote Health Employer of the Year; noting the award to be “an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of our entire team” he said.
“For the past 30 years, NWRH has been committed to providing primary health care services in regional, rural, and very remote communities across Queensland. This award is a testament to the commitment of our clinicians and support staff who work tirelessly every day to improve the health and well-being of our communities.”

Recognising the provision of health services in regional, rural, and remote areas to “not be without its challenges”, Mr Cain acknowledged the importance of forming and maintaining partnerships and genuine relationships to overcome obstacles.
“I would also like to extend my appreciation and acknowledge Susan and Richard Sewter from Mornington Island and Christine Mann and team from our working partners North West Hospital and Health Service, who were also nominated as finalists in their respective health service categories and are here with us tonight. It is inspiring to see so many dedicated health services in the field, and we are honored to be among them”.