“Remote area nursing is the best work in the world!”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in celebration of the professions’ invaluable contribution to global healthcare.

Primary Health Care NT Health Remote Outreach Midwife Katherine Goulliart and Continuous Quality Improvement Facilitator Mark Russell. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in celebration of the professions’ invaluable contribution to global healthcare.

According to WHO, nine million more nurses and midwives are needed globally to achieve universal health coverage by 2030, and it’s hoped the year-long celebration will inspire others to consider a career in either profession.

Having previously worked as a remote area nurse and midwife – “remote area nursing is the best work in the world!” – Mark Russell is responsible for the continued improvement in the quality of healthcare offered in remote communities as part of his role at Primary Health Care NT.

“Our job in Central Australia is mostly around Aboriginal health and I think it’s really important that we are offering an extremely high level of healthcare to Aboriginal people,” Mr Russell said.

“One of the most important things is to ensure people are getting the same level of healthcare as they are elsewhere, and as nurses we can be very effective in doing that, especially in the remote environment.”

Originally from France, Remote Outreach Midwife Katherine Goulliart has been working in remote Central Australia for many years.

Passionate about her professions capacity to affect real change, Ms Goulliart believes midwives are essential in remote areas, where access to resources can be an issue.

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“As a French person having migrated to Australia some many years ago it still feels to me there is another country within a country,” Ms Goulliart explained.

The responsibility of midwives to provide care to these areas meant women in these communities were “healthier in and of themselves” and therefore had a better chance to “have a healthier pregnancy, a healthier baby and healthier family,” Ms Goulliart said.

Describing her work as a “fantastic personal challenge,” Ms Goulliart is hopeful for the future of her profession and healthcare in the region.

“Come and work with us! This is an experience that you will never find anywhere else,” she said.