Staff

Role at MCRRH

As Associate Professor Remote Indigenous Health & Workforce, Catrina is responsible for providing leadership for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health workforce development, research and scholarship at the Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health and for General Practice Training at James Cook University.

Catrina is an Aboriginal woman from Mornington Island with family ties to the Yankaal and Gangalida people of the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Education

• 1993 Bachelor of Arts, Monash University
• 2008 Master of Public Health, James Cook University
• 2012 Graduate Certificate of Primary Health Care Research, James Cook University
• Current – Doctor of Philosophy (candidate), James Cook University

Previous Experience

• 2010–2015: As Director of the Indigenous Health Unit, Catrina was tasked with operationalising the strategic goals of the division’s Indigenous Health agenda. Catrina worked with community, professional, industry and government stakeholders to deliver on this agenda.
• 2001–2009: Catrina’s academic career commenced with James Cook University (JCU) at the Centre for Rural and Remote Health (CRRH) within the Faculty of Medicine Health & Molecular Sciences (FMHMS). Appointed to the position of Co-ordinator of Indigenous Studies, Catrina was responsible for one of CRRH’s key domains – Indigenous community engagement in health. As an Aboriginal woman from Mornington Island with family ties to the Yankaal and Gangalida people of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Catrina’s family background, cultural connections to the Indigenous communities of North West Queensland and work experience, provide essential skills and knowledge for this work. Some examples of this work include:
  • Indigenous representative on the Mount Isa Human Research Ethics Committee
  • Board member of Yapatjarra Aboriginal Medical Service, later reconstituted as the Mount Isa Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service trading as Gidgee Healing.
  • Gulf Communities Indigenous Health Summit
  • Consultative committee member for North West Queensland Allied Health Service
  • Mount Isa NAIDOC Committee
  • Aboriginal Health Worker Training Program
  • Cultural Awareness training and mentoring for health students (undergrad, postgraduate and international) and staff.

Research & Project Management Experience:

Catrina’s research interests lie within projects that provide the opportunity to be engaged in work that is aligned with her own personal commitment to improving the lives of her own people. Her research experience to date demonstrates she has the skills, knowledge and experience to successfully undertake research and project management that utilising Indigenous methodologies and is informed by Indigenous epistemologies, ontologies and axiologies (our ways of knowing, being and doing).

Example of work

Year: 2013–current
Role: Project Manager
Project title: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Skills Recognition & Upskilling Project

Funding and purpose: Funded by Australian Government’s Department of Health, to provide for a recognition of skills and/or upskilling of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers who current have certificate iv qualifications and work in a clinical setting, to qualify for registration as Aboriginal Health Practitioners with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA). 

Project description: This work built on decades of commitment to the advancement of Aboriginal Health Workers by the Division of Tropical Health & Medicine (formerly Faculty of Medicine, Health & Molecular Sciences) at James Cook University.

*Kristy Hill & Catrina Felton-Busch. (September 2015). Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health  
WorkerSkills Recognition & Up-Skilling Project: Final Report. Indigenous Health Unit, James Cook University.

Role at MCRRH

Shaun was appointed Head of Indigenous Health at the Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health in 2012. This role involves teaching, industry engagement and working with MCRRH academics across program areas to support the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health content and issues in the centre’s goals and activities.

Shaun brings to this role senior project officer experience through his previous positions in the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (Department of Health and Ageing) and his cultural affiliation with the Birri and Ewamain peoples of Northern Queensland.
Shaun’s interests include supporting Aboriginal Health Workers, chronic disease care and rural and remote health in outback Queensland.

Education and experience

• Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Health Promotion, Sydney University
• Graduate and Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
• Member of the Australian Health Promotion Association Indigenous Working Party – Queensland Branch
• 2014–present. Chairperson of the Mount Isa Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service, Gidgee Healing.

Teaching Areas:

• Cultural Awareness, Cultural Safety and Indigenous Health for Nursing Sciences
• Indigenous Education

Role at MCRRH

Les manages and oversees the daily operations of the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health. He also oversees community relations and ensures infrastructure, resources, finances, services and administration functions support the current and future strategic and operational needs.

He provides strategic support to the Director, including actively seeking additional grant funding to support infrastructure expansion across the MCRRH region. 

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Role at MCRRH

As the research head at the Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Associate Professor Santosh is responsible for providing research leadership for the development of remote, rural and indigenous health, health services, and workforce research. She also supports novice researchers, mentors and train HDRs and ECRs and other student placement.

Biography

Santosh is a demographer and social epidemiologist with skills in: both quantitative and qualitative research design; data collection methods including surveys, focus groups, interviews, participant observation; data analysis, particularly large and complex datasets with the use of advanced complex quantitative method; program evaluation; literature review including systematic reviews. She has research interests and expertise in the following areas:

• Primary health care
• Migration and Health
• Ageing and Health
• Gender and health
• Social epidemiology
• Technical demography and demographic methods specifically cohort analysis
• Analysis of large and longitudinal data-sets and developing causal methodology

Education

2007, Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.     

2001, Certificate in University teaching, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide.

1999, PhD (Demography), The Australian National University, ACT.

1986, MPhil (Master of Philosophy), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

1983, MA (Geography), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.            

Role at MCRRH

Senior Academic Lead – Allied Health

Biography

Linda Ford is an Aboriginal woman from the Bigambul people of South West Queensland but grew up on Kalkadoon land in the North West part of Queensland.  Linda has 26 years’ experience as a Social Worker in rural, remote and urban settings mainly in the fields of child protection, health, mental health and tertiary education.  Linda has previously presented to national and international conferences in the area of Aboriginal Health and Mental Health.  In November 2021 Linda was appointed as the National Vice President of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and in January 2021 she was also appointed as the Australian Indigenous representative to the Indigenous Commission of the International Federation of Social Work (IFSW). 

Education

Post Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Management, 2010 - Macquarie University

Bachelor of Social Work: Social Work, 1995 - James Cook University

Bachelor of Community Welfare: Community Welfare, 1993 - James Cook University

Sharon completed her PhD research in the clinical and sport psychology topic areas, developing and implementing a group resilience program for young athletes in Brisbane, Australia and Seattle, USA. Sharon has extensive experience in the training and supervision of provisional and student psychologists, and with other allied health professions through collaborative and professional practice models.

Role at MCRRH

Christine Foley is employed as the Allied Health Clinical Lead, Psychology, and is based in the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health (MCRRH). Christine is a Psychology Board of Australia approved Supervisor and takes great care and consideration when supervising Provisional Psychologists to fulfill their supervised practice plans. Christine is a passionate advocate for service delivery in rural and remote regions and is always looking for ways to improve access to mental health services, to members of rural and remote areas.

Biography

Christine has a special interest in working with people who have experienced either childhood trauma or combat trauma. And in addition to working with the CRRH, she is Mount Isa’s only approved sub contractor for Open Arms, the Veterans and Family Counselling Service (formerly known as VVCS) and has completed advanced training with both The Child Trauma Academy in Houston, Texas and The Phoenix Centre (formerly known as the Australian Centre for Post Traumatic Mental Health) based at the University of Melbourne.

Education

Christine has a Masters in Forensic Mental Health and is experienced in how mental health symptoms interact and impact with forensic matters.

A/Prof. Ulrich Orda is currently the 6th year Medical Education coordinator at CRRH. He is also the Director of Emergency and Director of Clinical Training for the North West Hospital and Health Service.

A/Prof. Orda completed his university qualifications in Germany, including graduating from Heinrich Hein University in 1991 (MD eq.) and University of Essen (now Duisberg-Essen) in 1997 (PhD Dissertation). He also holds specialist degrees in Emergency Medicine, General Practice, and Internal Medicine, subspecializing in Diabetology and Nutrition. He has a special interest in workforce planning and rural and remote clinical research.

A/Prof. Orda has been happily married for 28 years, and has four children.

Professional Memberships:

• FACRRM
• GEM
• JCCA

Role at the MCRRH

Senior Lecturer, Nursing

Biography

Jodi is a Registered Nurse with a background of working in rural and remote clinical care in Tasmania, Western Australia, and Queensland. Her clinical teaching roles have been as a facilitator at the Gold Coast University Hospital across the full range of specialties. Jodi has been a Senior Lecturer with James Cook University since 2018 and coordinates the Bachelor of Nursing program in Mount Isa and Cloncurry.

Originally from Tasmania, Jodi is passionate about building sustainable communities and enabling people to gain qualifications close to where they live.

Professional roles/memberships

• World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education
• Member, Australian College of Nursing

Education

Jodi has completed Masters in both health and human services management and leadership; and in clinical nursing and teaching. She was awarded a Tasmanian DHHS scholarship to complete these qualifications. She was the Director of Nursing at Oatlands Multipurpose Health Centre in Tasmania. She is a former remote area nurse in Warburton in the Ngaanyatjarra lands, Western Australia.

• Bachelor of Nursing (UTAS),
• Masters of Health and Human Services Leadership and Management (UTAS)
• Masters of Clinical Nursing Teaching (UTAS)
• Graduate Certificate, Health Professional Education

Role at the MCRRH

Lauren is the Allied Health Clinical Lead – Public Health Nutrition at the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health in Mount Isa. Lauren develops, coordinates and supervises public health, community nutrition and health promotion project placements in Mount Isa and Lower Gulf. The role also involves supporting and assisting the MCRRH research team.

Biography

Previously, Lauren worked as a Research Assistant with the Menzies School of Health Research and University of Melbourne. She has provided research support to multiple projects on remote stores, nutrition and trachoma. Prior to research, she worked as a Public Health Nutritionist in remote regions of Australia with Katherine West Health Board and Queensland Health. Lauren has worked in rural and remote communities for the past 10 years in the areas of public and preventative health.

Memberships

Public Health Association Australia & Australia Health Promotion Association

Education

She has completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Food Science and Nutrition), Graduate Certificate of Health Promotion, and a Masters of Public Health. 

Role at MCRRH

As the Clinical Lead for Speech Pathology, Bridget coordinates and supervises speech pathology student service-learning placements in Mount Isa and the Lower Gulf. Bridget also connects with community stakeholders to foster relationships and develop service learning placements that respond to the needs of the community and support the rural and remote health workforce.    

Biography

Bridget grew up in Brisbane, where she completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Hons) at the University of Queensland. She worked in schools across Far North Queensland before moving to Mount Isa in 2019 where she began working as a rural generalist speech pathologist in North-West Queensland and the Lower Gulf. Bridget enjoys the lifestyle and opportunities that living and working rural and remote provides, in particular trying all different types of arts and crafts and getting out camping when she can. Bridget is grateful for the opportunity to combine her passions of remote health, speech pathology practice, and learning together for this role at Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health.

Education
Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Hons)
Bridget is currently completing a Masters of Public Health

Professor Hays, with qualifications in both clinical medicine and medical education, has a strong record of achievement in research and scholarship related to training of medical practitioners, measurement of performance, rural health service delivery and workforce, and program evaluation and accreditation.

Qualifications

• MD (Higher Doctorate), University of Queensland, Australia, 2004 Thesis: Improving Standards in Rural General Practice
• PhD, James Cook University, Australia, 1991 Thesis: Self-evaluation of Videotaped Consultations in General Practice
• MBBS, University of Queensland, Australia, 1976

Biography

Richard Hays was a rural medical generalist in Northern Queensland before becoming a teacher and education researcher, gaining further qualifications in educational psychology and medical education. He has had roles in the development of several medical education programs, including new medical schools in Australia (JCU), the United Kingdom (Keele), Ireland (Limerick), Canada (Northern Ontario and Northern British Columbia), and in South-East Asia. He has also participated in many international medical education quality assurance reviews in Australia, New Zealand, the Western Pacific region, Asia, Europe and the UK. He has been awarded about AUD 3 million in competitive research and development grants and has published about 100 research papers, 150 other journal articles, 16 book chapters and 9 books, primarily on assessment, curriculum design and educational quality assurance. He still loves leading change based on medical education development and remains in part-time clinical practice.

Memberships

• Royal Australian College of GPs
• Royal College of GPs (UK)
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
• Association for the Study of Medical Education (UK)
• Association of Medical Education Europe
• Higher Education Academy (UK)
• Academy of Medical Educators (UK)
• Australian and New Zealand Association of Health Professional Educators

Administrative expertise

Richard has been a head of school or Dean at four Universities, around major educational reforms.

Role at MCRRH

Dr. Yaqoot Fatima is a Research Officer at the Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health.

Research Topics

Fatima's research interests are interdisciplinary in nature and involve both qualitative and quantitative methods. Her current research focus involves identifying approaches to enhance health outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged population groups and exploring risk factors for cardiovascular problems in young subjects.

• Adolescent and young adult population health: Epidemiological study of sleep and cardiovascular outcomes.
• Indigenous Health, in particular Sexually Transmitted Infections.
• Culturally appropriate healthcare services for Indigenous people using mixed research methods.

Research Experience

Fatima is an experienced researcher with expertise in statistical analyses, the design of survey questionnaires and conducting systematic reviews and meta analyses.

Role at MCRRH

Stephanie assists other academics, students and community members in the research of health related topics as identified by MCRRH and the community. As an Indigenous researcher she ensures that the research at MCRRH is culturally appropriate, ethical and takes Indigenous culture and practices into consideration.

Stephanie also occasionally assists with Cultural Awareness and Research Capacity Building activities.

Biography

Stephanie has held a number of roles since first starting at CRRH in 2006, such as coordinating Student Placements as the Support Officer under Dr Louis Peachey, and becoming the Coordinator the Mount Isa Safe Community project.

Stephanie has acquired a strong community development background from having worked across a number of sectors such as mining, employment, training and health.

Education

Stephanie has an Associate Degree in Indigenous Community Development and Management and in 2011 completed a Bachelor of Applied Sciences at Curtin University.

Professional and Community Roles

Stephanie has held a Directorship role on the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS) Board for Mount Isa region since 2011. She passionate about ensuring that the organisation is helping to assist and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are victims of family violence and/or sexual assault in rural and remote communities.

Stephanie has previously held Directorship roles with Gidgee Healing and Young People Ahead (YPA).

Achievements

Stephanie’s biggest achievement is being a parent to her son Franklin and daughter Evie-Rose.

In 2014, Stephanie started on a personal journey towards addressing drug and alcohol issues in the community, by co-facilitating Community Yarning Circles. Those affected by drugs can share their stories and ideas in a safe, non- formal environment whilst being supported from a community/family level. This is additional support towards raising awareness of the dangers of drugs, advocating for additional needs and services, supporting those struggling with addiction and family and friends who are impacted by drugs.

In 2012, she completed the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation - TRAIL Course, followed by the Indigenous Community Youth Leadership Program, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Stephanie is also proud to have been an Australian Action Partner for the Oxfam International Youth Partnership from 2011-2013. As the youth representative for Mount Isa, she still maintains communication and support partners with projects.

She was nominated as an ambassador for the Queensland Government Deadly Stories Campaign 2012. This initiative symbolised the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the foundations of Queensland.

Currently projects

• Development of a Participatory Action Research Framework for evaluation of the ‘Gidgee Healing’ Normanton Community Wellbeing and Residential Rehabilitation Service linkages.
• Pooling and Analysis of Combined University Department of Rural Health Students Evaluation and Feedback Data.
• Implementation of Primary Clinical Care Manual recommended Sexually Transmitted Infection screening guideline in antenatal care in North West Queensland.

Sarah is currently enrolled in a PhD investigating telerehabilitation for stroke survivors living in rural and remote areas.

Career Profile

Sarah has worked as a physiotherapist in Mount Isa since 2007. She first came to the area as a student in 2006 and couldn't wait to come back. During her time here she has worked across public and private sectors as a Physio, Team Leader and Clinical Educator. Most recently, Sarah was employed in the role of North West Community Rehabilitation Project Manager before taking some time out to start a family.

Research Interests

Sarah is passionate about people in rural and remote areas having access to high quality services and helping health professionals to develop their clinical skills. Her PhD is investigating how stroke survivors could be using technology to enable them on their recovery journey.

Other interests

Travel, sports, sewing and other crafts

Role at MCRRH

Amanda joined the MCRRH team in April 2012 in the dual role of personal assistant to the Director Professor Sabina Knight, and Administrative Officer with a focus on finance and financial activities.

Prior to working with MCRRH, she spent 10 years in corporate operations and finance. Amanda has attention to detail and holds formal accredited qualifications in Business.

Biography

Amanda moved from Townsville to Mount Isa in April 2012 and enjoys fishing and travelling.

Role at MCRRH

Catherine has worked at MCRRH since late 2014, first as a Library Assistant and now as a Research Officer.

Biography

Catherine grew up in Townsville, QLD and has been living in Mount Isa since 2014.

Education

Master of Public Health 2021

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) 2013

Role at MCRRH

Maree is Senior Student Placement Coordinator. 

Biography

Maree Nichols grew up in a small rural town in South-West New South Wales and has returned to Mount Isa to continue her work facilitating student placements in North West Queensland. She has 20 years’ experience working in student administration and support. Maree has been working in health student placements for more than 15 years and has a passion for Rural and Remote Health Workforce Improvement through provision of excellent placement opportunities, as well as encouraging student engagement in community.

My Role at MCRRH:

Keith is the Librarian & Research Governance Officer at the Yacca Library. He is responsible for the operation of the library including circulation, shelving, and collection development.

Biography:

Keith grew up in Glenbrook in the  Blue Mountains about 70km west of Sydney New South Wales before moving to Mount Isa with his wife, three children & dog in 2019. Keith has been working in the library field since 1998 with various local governments both in New South Wales & Queensland. Research roles from his previous positions involved genealogy, local history, and other historical records. Through his years of working in libraries, he has a good level of research information that utilises Library of Congress Subject Headings and Dewey Decimal Classification.

Keith likes to read mainly non-fiction books and enjoys reading manga or comics and some other fiction. He enjoys watching movies, cooking, collecting Lego, and other pop culture. He likes to travel in Australia and around the world, and appreciates the history and culture of all places and experiencing new food and drinks.

Education:

Keith completed his Diploma of Library and Information Services in 2002 from TAFE NSW. In March 2021, he completed the ALIA PD Cataloguing Basics through TAFE NSW. Keith is currently studying a Bachelor of Information Studies through Charles Sturt University.

Role at MCRRH

Research Officer

Biography

Andrew Varela is a research officer with the Supervisor Training Program at James Cook University. Andrew has experience in the banking and not-for-profit sector, finance, customer service, research and administrative roles. Andrew is an author who has published online. Andrew is currently completing a fine arts degree in creative writing.

Education

QUT Bachelor of Fine Arts: Creative & Professional Writing 2017 – Current (expected completion date 2022)

Role at the MCRRH

Sally West is a Nursing Academic based in Weipa. She coordinates the student experience while on placement in Weipa while Fostering relationships with Western Cape College to facilitate student exposure to health students. Sally coordinates inter-professional education and multi-disciplinary student team meetings as well as maintaining a network of current students living in Weipa studying health disciplines.

Biography

Clinical Nurse and Nurse Education in Weipa and remote communities within Cape York for the past 6 years.
Previously contributed to the implementation of public health interventions, as well as both community and staff public health education in remote Indigenous Australian communities within Cape York. Previous focus paediatrics, emergency and infectious disease nursing in Brisbane and Central Queensland since 2004.

Research Interests

Reduction of discrepancies between available resources in urban vs rural contexts.
Student placement models. Sally is currently researching the implementation of a breathing device (nasal high flow) within Thursday Island, Cooktown and Weipa for children under 5yrs old who have respiratory disease

Role at the MCRRH

Alice Cairns is currently working in Atherton, as the Western Cape Site Coordinator and Lecturer, for the Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University. In October 2018, she commenced an Early Career Research Fellowship.

Biography

Alice is an occupational therapist who specialised in mental health rehabilitation for over 12 years in clinical and management roles. She has worked across private and government community mental health services within Queensland and in forensic mental health services in the UK. She has a particular clinical interest in the impact of cognitive capacity on occupational performance. She received her PhD titled 'Exploring help-seeking, vocational role function and goal setting of young people accessing mental health services' from the Queensland University of Technology in 2017.

Professional roles/memberships

OT Australia member
SAARAH member

Professional achievements

In Alice's current role she has:

• Developed a CRRH presence in Weipa through developing relationships with local Queensland Health, Apunipima, Cape York Pharmacy and Education Queensland clinical and operational staff.
• Supported research capacity building within local Queensland Health clinical staff through supporting the development of research projects.
• Developed a model for Occupational Therapy student placements within

Research Interests

Alice's research has focused on adult and adolescent mental health, particularly the impact on cognitive function on functioning. In her current role Alice's research interests have broadened to focus on health service research. In 2019 she will be supported by a HOT North Early Career Fellowship to evaluate a student-led older person's wellness service in remote Cape York communities.

https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/alice.cairns/ 

Role with MCRRH

Malama is the MCRRH Site Coordinator based in Weipa. As a site coordinator, Malama develops, organises and facilitates authentic remote, rural and Indigenous health clinical placements, including management of student accommodation, cultural awareness and administrative support to Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Students.

Biography

Malama is from Mabuiag Island, in the Torres Strait but grew up on Yuggera country in South East Queensland. With twelve years’ experience in Indigenous affairs for the public and private sectors.

Education

Malama has completed her Bachelor of Business majoring in Management. She is now currently studying a Master of Social Work.

Biography

Amanda has more than 30 years' hospital and rural pharmacy experience. She has worked as a pharmacist in Aboriginal communities in South Australia and Queensland and continues to support the Cherbourg community as an accredited pharmacist. Amanda worked in the Pacific Island countries of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, as well as visiting other countries in the region as a World Health Authority and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade consultant.  She previously worked in her current role in 2011 before travelling overseas.

Role at the MCRRH

Based at the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Kylie is North West Community Rehabilitation's program manager and occupational therapist. Kylie works with the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist, Indigenous Rehabilitation Assistant and Administration Officer to plan and deliver goal-focused, student-assisted therapy programs for adults with rehabilitation needs in Mount Isa.

Biography

With more than 20 years’ experience in adult physical rehabilitation in metropolitan hospitals, Kylie has engaged in research and clinical education, particularly in the area of stroke recovery and self-management. She joined MCRR in 2022, keen to develop skills in rehabilitation and research activity in a remote and indigenous context.

Membership

Occupational Therapy Australia

Education

Kylie has a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (hons 1), University of Queensland.