The Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) was established in 2008 and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. It addresses persistent challenges to accessing primary healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory.
RAHC is a programme designed to increase the pool of urban-based Health Professionals (HPs) available for work in Indigenous communities. It does so by attracting, recruiting and orienting them, and then providing ongoing support and training to assist in the transition to remote practice.
The professions considered for a RAHC placement are General Practitioners (GPs), Registered Nurses (RNs), Dentists, Dental Therapists, Dental Assistants and Audiologists.
Over time, RAHC has developed a steadily increasing pool of highly motivated, effective, culturally sensitive and clinically competent HPs, keen to undertake regular short-term paid placements in the Northern Territory (NT). The remote workforce in the NT is significantly strengthened through RAHC’s existence and many health centres and programmes now depend on RAHC to supply their staffing needs. To supplement permanent staff, it has mobilised urban-based HPs and developed an alternative workforce for remote settings as opposed to just redistributing from other remote or rural settings.
As a RAHC HP, you will have the support of the entire RAHC team. The Canberra-based Placement team will provide you with support in your placement, contract availability, and payroll inquiries. The Travel and Logistics team will assist with all travel and logistical queries. Regional Coordinators within the team are your first point of contact whilst on placement as they provide key on-ground support.
On your way to your first placement, we will provide you with face-to-face cultural training in either Alice Springs or Darwin. GPs and RNs can also undertake a clinical face-to-face training day if requested. The clinical team will be your point of contact for any clinical issues you may encounter whilst on placement. They also oversee our free eLearning platform, which can be accessed through the RAHC website at any time. Additionally, the clinical team coordinates our Remote Educators (REs). REs support GPs and RNs on their first RAHC placement by assisting with the transition to the remote environment, both clinically and culturally.
If you are a HP considering undertaking a placement, you need to apply through our website. Once you are credentialed, you can be considered for placements as they arise. Being credentialed with RAHC is not a guarantee of a placement.
If you are ready to be part of the effort to close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes across the NT, we stand ready to support you.