Paramedics Stephanie Nixon and Hanna Pakoa commit to improving health outcomes in Charleville and St George

Two southwest paramedics have received funding to close the gap between rural and metropolitan healthcare, and to improve the outcomes of Indigenous patients. Meet the local paramedics achieving great things.

Meet the two southwest paramedics fighting for change in rural and remote communities when it comes to equitable health access.

On Wednesday, May 3 Hanna Pakoa and Stephanie Nixon were announced as the recipients of a research grant funded by the Queensland Ambulance Service at a symposium in Townsville.

A total of $43,000 in grants were awarded to paramedics undertaking further education, research projects and professional development thanks to not-for-profit organisation KJM Foundation.

Now based in St George, Ms Pakoa won the Graduate of the Year award and was recognised for her performance during her placement in Roma last year.

“This funding will help me continue my studies,” Ms Pakoa said.

“I have just started a graduate diploma in public health and in my first semester we are focusing on Indigenous populations which is helpful because they make up a large portion of patients in our community.

“Indigenous patients face inequities that are far greater than what we as paramedics can handle. They face social and structural barriers to their healthcare, poverty and non-adequate housing.

Grant award winners Stephanie Nixon (left) and Hannah Pakoa (right) pictured with Professor John Pearn AO KJM Patron. Picture: Queensland Ambulance Service.

“They don’t have the financial stability that people in the city have – the list is endless.

“Me being one person means it’s hard to make an impact, but my studies will hopefully help this.”

Fellow grant recipient Ms Nixon has worked at the Charleville Ambulance Station for seven years and is passionate about bringing rural health care technology and equipment back up to speed.

“Some of the biggest difficulties we face working in rural and remote communities is distance and inequality of access,” she said.

“For example we don’t have CT scanners and don’t have 24 hour access to X-ray machines. This means we have to liaise with different organisations and bring those people in.

“We also only have mental health professionals available on Mondays to Fridays.”

Ms Nixon, who is studying her Masters in Extended Care Paramedicine, received a $36,000 grant and is going overseas to present at a conference about unconscious bias.

“It’s important to understand the unconscious bias we can bring can to our job and how it can affect our patients’ journey,” she said.

The KJM Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation within the QAS which was founded in 1988 as a memorial to paramedic Kenneth James (Jim) McPherson, and to commemorate all QAS officers who lost their lives in the call of duty.

The foundation promotes pre-hospital care research activities which contribute directly to improving patient care by providing vital funds through grants for QAS officers.