Territorians will be able to access a greater variety of allied health services with the expansion of the Northern Territory's first and only professionally supervised, student-delivered, multidisciplinary health centre. Charles Darwin University (CDU) has appointed its first clinical Allied Health Services Manager, Fiona Tipping, who will oversee the expansion of CDUs existing allied health services (psychology and exercise sports science) to include occupational therapy, social work, audiology, speech pathology and dietetics. Operating out of CDUs Health Hub in Casuarina, the Allied Health Services Manager will also develop the University's allied health clinical placement offerings and support the continued growth of CDUs Outback Active Program. CDU Head of School Allied Health Sciences Associate Professor Nicole O'Reilly said the expansion of services would assist in meeting community demand. "CDUs goal is to provide Territory-oriented clinical placements for both internal and external students, equipping them with valuable practical experience while also nurturing our future allied health workforce," Associate Professor O'Reilly said. "Targeted in areas of unmet need and high wait lists, CDUs Health Hub will offer a greater range of allied health services in one of Australia's fastest growing employment sectors.
"Delivering care closer to home and in a culturally safe environment is a cornerstone of effective practice in the Territory. "We hope to build on our partnerships to deliver a range of services across the geography of the Territory making use of differing modalities, including telehealth, to improve the health and wellbeing of rural and remote areas focused on improving First Nations health outcomes." The expansion of CDUs allied health clinical placement and service offerings was facilitated by the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN) with $396,000 in Federal Government funding.
"Providing Territory-oriented clinical placements for students is essential to develop the skills and the approach required to provide culturally and clinically safe care for patients with complex health needs," said Federal Member for Solomon (Darwin and Palmerston) and Special Envoy for Northern Australia, Luke Gosling OAM MP. "Our additional investment builds on the various initiatives at CDU supported by the Albanese Government including the new Medical School, the Better Health Futures building and the recently opened CDU City Campus – Danala."
