Gunnedah Community Health has welcomed speech pathologist Omara De Carlos, who joined after successfully completing her final adult clinical placement at Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital in September last year.
“My placement at Tamworth Hospital last year opened my eyes to the unique rewards of working in a rural community,” De Carlos said, speaking while visiting a clinic in Bingara this week as part of her role.
The time at Tamworth Hospital encouraged De Carlos to apply for a permanent role within Hunter New England Local Health.
“I gained practical skills and confidence in speech pathology, and I received incredible support from the allied health educators. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned at Gunnedah Community Health.”
Allied Health Educators like Patricia Webb will be alongside De Carlos to help develop her career.
“The Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program is making a real difference in the Hunter New England region,” Webb said.
“The increase in student placements and the positive feedback from staff and students is incredibly encouraging. We are working hard to create opportunities for students to pursue allied health careers and develop our rural workforce pipeline.”
De Carlos’ placement comes as part of the Rural Allied Health Educator Pilot Program, a joint program between NSW Health and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, which seeks to address the shortfall of medical practitioners in rural Australia, with Hunter New England facing a critical lack of medical staff.
“Staffing is one of the most critical issues we face in the healthcare system, and in regional, rural, and remote Australia that problem is amplified,” Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said.
“I am really proud a program like this is having great results.”
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