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Your Stories
This is where we tell your stories, cover topical issues and promote meaningful initiatives.
Interested in sharing your experience of working in remote health? Perhaps there is a topic that you would like to see covered in the CRANAplus Magazine? Get in touch with your story or suggestion by submitting an enquiry
Remote Area Nurse Lesley Woolf recognised with Medal of Order of Australia
Aboriginal community-controlled health services are the way of the future, says Registered Nurse and Midwife Lesley Woolf, Executive Health Manager – Health, Aged Care & Community Services – at…
The trachoma project reducing preventable blindness in Western Australia
We are on the road to eliminate trachoma in Australia, says environmental health expert Dr Melissa Stoneham. But Melissa, who heads up the service-delivery Environmental Health Trachoma Project…
Managing a remote health clinic
Josh Stafford sits on the CRANAplus Member Nursing & Midwifery Roundtable and is the Director of Nursing at Lockhart River Primary Health Care Centre with the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health…
2024 Remote Nursing & Midwifery Conference Preview
Catch up on the speakers, the preceding free Expo, and social opportunities that you can expect at the CRANAplus 2024 Remote Nursing and Midwifery Conference in Naarm/Melbourne this October.
Nurses share their advice on school visits and school nursing
Do you work with children in a school setting, or hope to in the future? We’ve invited five CRANAplus Members to share their insights into working with children in rural and remote communities,…
Julie’s life-changing experience as a remote area school nurse
CRANAplus Member and RN Julie Bamford reflects on the rewards and challenges of her four-year experience working as a school nurse in a remote community.
A thought-out journey into remote area nursing
CRANAplus Nursing and Midwifery Roundtable member Michelle Appo shares insight into her recent experience in Halls Creek WA, and why she is carefully considering each step in her pathway to remote…
The overlooked skill of offroad four-wheel driving
Many remote area nurses report being ‘handed the keys to the clinic’ without prior experience. Just as many are ‘handed the keys’ to the four wheel drive, having only ever driven a small two wheel…
Timely termination access in remote Australia
Pregnant people in rural and remote areas seeking termination services commonly experience access delays and difficulties. Whilst several factors influence this, Laura Berry, Mental Health and…
Preventing preterm labour
In this article, Leonie McLaughlin, CRANAplus Remote Clinical Educator shares what remote practitioners can do to prevent preterm labour. For further information please enrol in a CRANAplus Maternity…
Considerations for psychological debriefing in the workplace
When something traumatic happens, people often feel the need to ‘do’ something; to ‘fix’ people’s hurt, shock, sadness, or any other feelings they are experiencing. This is a natural reaction, as we…
Functioning in a dysfunctional workplace
Many of us have worked in a dysfunctional workplace at some point. You know, the workplace that is full of hostility, negativity, cliques, mistrust, inefficiency and selfishness? Along with these…
Q&A with Nurse Practitioner Tom Rampal
Katherine-based NP Tom Rampal talks balancing personal and professional lives, becoming a nurse practitioner, and the ins and outs of chronic disease management.
In love with Alice Springs — Kylie’s pitch for working in the Centre
Registered Nurse, clinical educator and CRANAplus course facilitator Kylie Huxtable, admits she ‘shamelessly promotes’ her current hometown of Alice Springs to participants considering remote work in…
One-on-one nursing: opportunities for personalised care in the remote setting
Remote clinics can be the ideal environment for nurses to encourage patients to be involved in decisions about their health, says retired clinical nurse consultant Helen Walker.
Undergraduate nurses share their placement experiences in rural and remote Australia
CRANAplus is committed to working with its Members to explore and clarify their experiences, to help guide and inform CRANAplus activities and advocacy. This includes the emerging workforce –…
Making the leap: Emma’s message to nurses with a dream
Recruited this year as a Remote Clinical Educator at CRANAplus, Registered Nurse/Clinical Nurse Emma Davis hopes to inspire nurses thinking of moving into the rural and remote environment to make the…
From student to trainer: Ivy’s nursing career on Thursday Island
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) clinical facilitator Ivy Hodges has a keen insight into how the graduate students she is mentoring are feeling and what they are experiencing. Not…
Helping remote health workers with their self-care
“It’s a privilege when people want to share their stories with you and you can help them,” says Bush Support Line psychologist Maria-Christine Mandile.
Student story: A refreshing change of pace in Alice Springs
Melbourne-based nursing student Grace recently undertook a clinical placement in Alice Springs, NT – an experience she describes as invaluable. Here, she talks about her cultural orientation,…
Student story: Beyond the pages in Nyirripi
Second-year nursing student Brittanie says her very remote placement in Nyirripi, Central Australia imparted “lessons that no textbook could convey”. Here the University of New England student writes…
The joy of locum nursing in remote Australia
After 60 hours of night shift, locum nurse Greta Webb spent time telling us how much she has loved being a part of Rural LAP. A veteran of the program, Greta joined Rural LAP 13 years ago and…
Triage Emergency Care Quiz
Test your knowledge of triage emergency care in remote Australia with this quiz adapted from CRANAplus' pre-course online learning. Correct answers are shown at the bottom of the article.
Strongyloidiasis – eradicating every last worm with Dr Wendy Page
2021 NT Australian of the Year, Dr Wendy Page spent three decades working in East Arnhem Land with Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, fighting a parasitic enemy that is invisible to the naked eye…
Remote area nursing packing list
We invited CRANAplus Members to share their advice on items to bring when working in a remote area, or to purchase when visiting a regional or urban hub. Here is the list you helped us to compile!
Taking the query out of Q Fever
In the 1930s, a mysterious outbreak of illness among Brisbane abattoir workers was dubbed ‘query fever’ because of its unknown cause. 90 years later, Q Fever can still mystify and mislead with its…
New course supports health workers experiencing trauma
Following the recent release of two written trauma resources, the CRANAplus Mental Health and Wellbeing team are proud to announce the addition of a third resource, a new online course titled…
Returning to remote area nursing after time away
Greg Morley launched his remote nursing career in the 1980s, before returning to the city and building a life there for more than 25 years. But his love of remote area nursing never left him and in…
Culture the focus at Yutjuwala Djiwarr Aged Care Centre
“You won’t find our residents sitting blankly looking at a television screen. They’re always outdoors, catching the breeze.” That’s Registered Nurse Rosie Breen, Service Manager at the Yutjuwala…
CRANAplus Q&A: “I have been asked if I am competent at triage. Is a certificate all I need?”
Triage requirements vary significantly across different healthcare settings, encompassing distinctions between state services, health districts, and individual practices. Notably, there is no…
CRANAplus facilitator Kirsty Blair’s passion for preparing remote health professionals
CRANAplus course facilitator, Kirsty Blair RN/RM has experience ranging from intensive care as the after-hours coordinator in a busy city hospital to working overseas in war-torn regions. Having…
Student story: Cameron’s remote nursing placement on Thursday Island
Cameron Powers’ final student nursing placement has solidified his career direction: he’s heading remote. Here, the Queensland University of Technology student writes about his multi-leg adventure to…
Student story: Jethro’s confidence-building placement in Central Australia
Jethro Haythorpe, a nursing student from Charles Darwin University, recently undertook two consecutive placements in Alice Springs, NT. Here, Jethro writes of star-filled desert nights, stunning red…
Remote nursing research tips
Are you interested in undertaking research in the remote healthcare sector? We invited six nurses with research experience to answer your burning questions.
CRANAplus facilitators in action
Check out what it’s like to take to the road as a CRANAplus facilitator. A few of our volunteers have captured some behind-the-scenes action as they rounded out the 2023 course schedule.
Nurse-led skin cancer detection pilot continues
In December 2022, we spoke with Marion Eckert, Director of the Rosemary Bryant Research Centre (RBRC) Uni SA and her team about their new pilot program Project Check Mate – a collaboration with Skin…
What’s happening online? CRANAplus Member Facebook Group
Check out some of the latest content from our new CRANAplus Members Facebook Group. This Facebook Group provides a forum for Individual CRANAplus Members to connect with each other, share ideas,…
2023 CRANAplus Member Survey Results
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2023 Member Survey. Your participation helps us to develop a deeper understanding of your experiences and gather valuable workforce data. It allows us to…
Ann’s train journey takes an unexpected turn
CRANAplus Board member and RN Ann Aitken recently found herself tending to a person with chest pains during a recreational train journey. Here she tells her tale – and pays thanks to having recently…
Broken systems? Fix them
How often could something you are doing at work be simplified, improved, or adjusted to better meet the health needs of individuals or the community? Be honest. Sometimes, it can feel to you and your…
Baby bundles of success in PNG
While building a school in Papua New Guinea, carpenter Barry Kirby became aware of the region’s incredibly high rate of preventable maternal and newborn fatality. 12 years and two degrees later, he…
Supporting the wellbeing of remote agency nurses
CRANAplus regularly partners with organisations from the remote health sector to support staff mental health and wellbeing. A recent collaboration with nursing agency Affinity Nursing has upskilled…
Increasing male engagement in rural and remote centres
A/Prof Tim Moss from CRANAplus partner organisation Healthy Male provides advice on strategies health practitioners can use to increase male engagement in primary health care.
Apply now for 2024 scholarships, grants and awards
We are now accepting applications for the 2024 Scholarships and Grants program. Nominations are also now open for the CRANAplus' 2024 Australian Remote Health Awards. Browse award categories…
Allergies on the rise
Allergies need to be taken seriously. Heather Roberts, who presented an abstract at the 40th CRANAplus Conference and has worked for the National Allergy Council since 2019, explains how rural and…
Tasmanian nurse Katie Pennington recognised as 2023 Remote & Isolated Health Professional of the Year
This year’s recipient of the CRANAplus Aurora Award for the Remote and Isolated Health Professional of the Year, Katie Pennington, reflects on the power of nurses’ voices, the community health model…
New starter Micah makes a difference in West Arnhem
The recipient of the 2023 Early to Remote Practice Award, Micah Haslam RN, describes receiving the award as a surprise and honour. Here, she talks about her newfound love of Gunbalanya.
Laura Black, NP from WA’s Wheatbelt, receives 2023 CRANAplus Excellence in Remote and Isolated Health Practice award
Laura Black, Nurse Practitioner from the tiny town of Moorine Rock in the West Australian Wheatbelt, is the 2023 recipient of the CRANAplus Excellence in Remote and Isolated Health Practice award.
2023 Gayle Woodford Memorial Scholarship recipient, Tiffany Cattermole
Tiffany feels fortunate to have been awarded the 2023 Gayle Woodford Memorial Scholarship and says it will give her the upper hand in expanding her career in remote health.
The History of CRANAplus (Part 1): 1982 – 1985 — CRANA’s Origin Story
The formation of the Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia in the early 1980s represents a collective triumph against the odds. Remote area nurses at the time were frequently under-resourced and…
The History of CRANAplus (Part 2): Preparing the workforce — the push for education
At the 1985 conference in Townsville, education (or lack thereof) was identified as the single most important issue facing RANs.
The History of CRANAplus (Part 3): The fight for identity — validating RAN practice
How can you make your voice heard when you are out of sight from the majority of Australians? CRANA would answer this question successfully, but not without difficulty, over the next four decades. As…
The History of CRANAplus (Part 4): From cottage industry to corporate entity
CRANA's history is defined by two major growth spurts — the funding of the late 1990s and the diversification of the late 2000s. But when its ambitions have exceeded its budget, passionate volunteers…
Ready for the next pandemic?
Is Australia ready for future pandemics? Whether we can curb the spread will depend on the nation’s ability to run effective quarantine facilities, writes Senior Research Officer, Angela Sheedy.…
“Our responsibility to graduates” with New South Wales-based Clinical Educator, Dalya Holowinski
CRANAplus Member and Riverina-based District Nurse Educator Dalya Holowinski explains the process of identifying the learning needs of the emerging workforce, the roving CNE model, and the…
Student story: Maningrida placement cements aspiring remote area nurse Gillian’s passion for remote practice
Aspiring remote area nurse Gillian Edmiston from Charles Darwin University shares insight into her four-week placement in Maningrida, an Aboriginal community in West Arnhem Land, NT, where she worked…
Sexual Health in Regional & Remote Populations with Nikki Brandon from SHINE SA
Nikki Brandon from SHINE SA provides an update on the challenges of STI screening in remote areas, some tips on encouraging screening, and asymptomatic STIs.
2022 CRANAplus Early to Remote Practice Award Winner, volunteers in Vietnam
Last year’s CRANAplus Early to Remote Practice Award Winner, Lorraine Woods, put her prize money towards a volunteering trip to Vietnam, where she and her friend Judith delivered resources and…
Midwifery Group Practice in the Torres Strait with CM Maxine Lenehan
Maxine Lenehan CM works within the Midwifery Group Practice on Thursday Island. She explains how MGP works in the Torres Strait, the logistics of island-based healthcare, and the “beautiful…
Recap: 2023 CRANAplus 40th Anniversary Conference
This October, more than 200 delegates and stakeholders gathered in Gimuy/Cairns at the CRANAplus 40th Anniversary Conference, for three days of networking, reminiscing, and envisioning a better…
The remote area nursing couple chasing their farming dreams
CRANAplus Member Dr Kirsten Due MO writes in about inspiring nursing couple, Jason and Melanie. The pair met in Alice Springs and lived in remote Alaska, before returning to Australia to continue…
Mindfulness on the go for remote health professionals
In the busyness, and with the competing demands in our lives, it is essential to prioritise our physical health and wellbeing, writes Senior Psychologist, Therese Forbes. We are constantly bombarded…
Early intervention crucial for burn victims
First responders can dramatically improve outcomes for burn victims, reducing the need for a graft by fifty per cent. Here Dr Helen Douglas, who works for the State Burns Service in WA, talks about…
Adding maternity emergency care skills to the remote area nurse’s toolbox, with midwife Di Evans
Remote area midwife and CRANAplus facilitator Di Evans is passionate about empowering and supporting RANs. Here Di shares what drives her volunteer contribution to CRANAplus’ “something for…
Regular CRANAplus Magazine writer reflects on the 2015 conference in new book
In the 2010s, Journalist Rosemary Cadden travelled from Adelaide to the Top End in the footsteps of explorer and fellow Scot, John McDouall Stuart. On the way, she attended the 2015 CRANAplus…
40th CRANAplus Conference Preview
Catch up on the speakers, pre- and post-conference events, and social opportunities that you can expect at the 40th CRANAplus Conference in Cairns this October.
Nursing on Christmas Island, with Stevhnie Nel
Community health nurse Stevhnie Nel discusses cultural awareness when working with Chinese and Malay clients, community immersion as a self-care strategy, and witnessing the annual Christmas Island…
60 years a nurse in rural New South Wales
CRANAplus Member Sandra Vicary retired recently, having just reached the milestone of 60 years of nursing in rural New South Wales. She remembers asking permission to marry as a young nursing sister,…
Coping with the Kimberley Floods
Senior Psychologist for the Bush Support Line, Dr Nicole Jeffery-Dawes, reflects on the emotional and professional challenges her community faced during the floods in the Kimberley earlier this year…
Put sepsis at the forefront
RN, RM and Remote Clinical Educator at CRANAplus, Leonie McLaughlin, is passionate about helping nursing staff in remote communities provide best-practice care in the absence of maternity services…
CRANAplus Q&A: Paediatric burns
“Hi CRANAplus. Paediatric burns are not uncommon in the community I work in. These often result from spilled boiling water. Despite having previous experience/ training in burns, I still find myself…
Cytomegalovirus: remote nurses key to early detection
How much do you know about CMV? As the first port of call for antenatal screening in much of remote Australia, nurses are key to early detection and treatment. So urges remote area nurse Mel Howard,…
CRANAplus facilitator spotlight: On home soil
CRANAplus course facilitator Jackie Hanniver reflects on the magnetic pull of country Australia, and the less obvious benefits of delivering training where remote health staff work and live.
Limited-time Membership offer for students
Whether you’re studying nursing or midwifery, or undertaking training in an allied health speciality, CRANAplus wants to support you on your pathway to developing a career in remote and isolated…
Becoming a remote area nurse – a new module
If you are interested in working as a remote area nurse or midwife, but uncertain how to get started, you may want to check out our new free reflective online module, ‘Becoming a remote area nurse:…
Mindful Photography Competition: Winners Announced
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the CRANAplus Mindful Photography competition. Check out the competition winners here!
Remote area nursing: That time I saved a horse’s life
In the 1980s, when a horse suffered a cut to the neck in Tarcoola, SA, new-to-town remote area nurse Ros Jinks performed a successful “backyard surgery” to save its life. Her story evokes the golden…
Staying safe around camp dogs, with AMRRIC
Camp dogs are culturally significant, a source of joy, and a mainstay of many remote communities. However, health professionals who work in or visit remote communities may sometimes find them…
Risk management in Antarctica, with Dr. Edi Albert
Dr. Edi Albert, Senior Lecturer in Remote and Extreme Environment Medicine at the University of Tasmania, has spent his career working in a variety of extreme environments – including Antarctica. He…
Empowering Nurse Practitioners, with Lesley Salem
At this year’s CRANAplus Conference, proud Wonnarua woman and Nurse Practitioner (NP) Lesley Salem will shine a light on the challenges and opportunities facing the Nurse Practitioner workforce in…
Student story: A deeper understanding
Meg Gibson from the University of New England reflects on the cultural lessons learned during her nursing placement in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
Incivility in remote health workplaces
Uncivil workplace behaviours that border on bullying can have a destructive impact on staff wellbeing and health care delivery. As Therese and Kristy from CRANAplus’ Mental Health and Wellbeing team…
Student story: The country’s calling
Curtin University physiotherapy student Abbey Staer experienced varied practice areas, outreach and Aboriginal health during her final placement at Karratha Health Campus. Having also found…
CRANAplus Fellow Isabelle Skinner on Telehealth’s trajectory
CRANAplus Fellow in Focus Isabelle Skinner, is a nurse midwife turned remote area nurse turned educator. In this summary of her nursing life, Isabelle touches on her passion for telehealth and wound…
CRANAcast taster: CRANAcast with Keppel Schafer
In episode 18 of CRANAcast, Keppel Schafer RN, RM and Queensland “country boy at heart” shares his top drawcards of working in remote health, along with stories from his last 12 years volunteering as…
Nursing through the floods in Daly River, NT
“Navigating a moderate flood event in a remote community can be a challenging and eye-opening experience for health-care professionals,” writes well-versed Rural LAP locum Gawaine Glasby RN, of his…
Floods and Chalkboards in North West Queensland
CRANAplus Member Paul Reeves, Clinical Nurse Coordinator, provides a snapshot of his recent work out in North West Queensland.
Disaster nursing: expecting the unexpected
Six years ago, when RN Catherine Anne Brewer found out about the terrorist bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in England, she asked herself “What if that happened on my watch?” This question has…
Mooditj Leadership Training experience
Holly Fazulla from SHINE SA reflects on a Mooditj Leadership Training course she recently completed in Alice Springs. Now, she’s prepared to deliver the Mooditj program, a resilience, relationships…
Encouraging ageing well, with keynote speaker Professor Eddy Strivens
Looking at healthy ageing has been a lifetime’s work for Professor Eddy Strivens, a key speaker at this year’s CRANAplus conference in Cairns in October. Here he talks about becoming an ‘accidental…
Transitioning to remote practice: RANPP participants on their career journeys to date
Midway through 2022, CRANAplus accepted four nurses into its pilot Remote Area Nursing Pathway Program (RANPP). The program attracted interest from hundreds of nurses, highlighting the emerging…
A CRANAplus Members’ guide on retiring from remote area nursing
Retired rural and remote area nurses Stewart, Karen, June and Tracy share their retirement journeys and discuss transitioning out of the workforce, preparing your finances and home, pursuing your…
Taking nursing education to remote Australia
Nurses are a mainstay of the rural and remote health workforce, so it’s vital to invest in their professional development. That’s the view of Jason Phieler, a long-term facilitator for CRANAplus…
Dan Hanson on the benefits of a remote area nursing mentor
The CRANAplus LINKS Mentoring Program for remote health professionals connects mentors and mentees from around Australia. Free for all parties, the program encourages career development and builds…
Preventing Tuberculosis in the Torres Strait
Papua New Guinea experiences some of the world’s highest rates of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. The Torres Strait Protected Zone permits traditional inhabitants to travel without passport…
Who can call the Bush Support Line?
The Bush Support Line is a space for all rural and remote health workers to talk. The line has been operating in various forms since 1997 and provides a non-judgemental, safe and anonymous space for…
Responding to a Motor Vehicle Crash
Intensive Care Paramedic and CRANAplus Remote Emergency Care course Facilitator Casey Hayes provides advice on how to respond to a motor vehicle crash while working in a remote setting. Casey’s…
Growing Deadly Families
Last year, Queensland Aboriginal midwives Sonita Giudice and Melina Connors travelled 44,500 kilometres in cars, planes, and ferries – equivalent to circumnavigating the globe – as part of the…
Introducing CRANAplus Board Member, Ann Aitken
Dr Ann Aitken PhD was appointed to the CRANAplus Board in October 2022, alongside Danielle Causer whom we introduced in CRANA Magazine edition #127. Ann is Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Facility…
Celebrating Excellence: NAATSIHWP & IAHA Award Winners
CRANAplus was proud to sponsor multiple important industry awards in 2022, including NAATSIHWP’s Models of Care and Career Pathways Innovation Excellence Award and IAHA’s Allied Health Assistant…
Understanding effective alcohol and drug treatments
The latest review into effective alcohol and drug-use treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has the potential to encourage greater recognition of the value of First Nations…
CRANAcast taster: Episode 15 with Di Thornton
In episode 15 of CRANAcast, CRANAplus Fellow, registered nurse, and endorsed nurse practitioner from the Murray-Mallee region in SA, Di Thornton, shares her views on taking an “outside the box”…
Student story: Holistic and Culturally Safe practice in Ntaria
Undergraduate nursing student Karleigh Barbour reflects on her 2022 remote placement in Ntaria (Hermannsburg), NT, where her dream of becoming a RAN began to feel more like a reality.
Differences between urban and remote nursing
CRANAplus Professional Officer Michelle Mason highlights some of the differences between urban and remote nursing, including location, staffing, skill set, resources and lifestyle, and provides…
Advice on applying for nursing and midwifery scholarships and grants
CRANAplus Professional Officer Melanie Avion offers advice on applying for scholarships and grants including tips on meeting the criteria, filling out and submitting an application, and the…
CRANAplus Q&A: Shoes for new RANs
“What shoes would you recommend new RANs to be wearing? I understand the work is very different from normal RN work, and I don’t think my runners will cut the NT wet season”. Corey, NT
A new face at CRANAplus, Laura Coldwell
In this article, we introduce you to the newest member of the CRANAplus Mental Health and Wellbeing Team, Laura Coldwell. A UK-trained mental health nurse, with experience in sexual and remote…
CRANAplus Education Update: April 2023
This year, the CRANAplus Education team has rolled out a new two-day face-to-face workshop for the Maternity Emergency Care course. Readers can also look forward to the relaunch of our Advanced…
Introducing Amanda Forti
Amanda Forti RN RM joined CRANAplus as a Remote Clinical Educator in July of last year. Amanda has a Master of Philosophy in the field of Midwifery along with experience in private and public…
Introducing our new Safety & Security Framework
CRANAplus recently released a new safety and security framework outlining its three areas of commitment to the safety and security of remote health professionals. We have also published new and…
Verus People answer your FAQs about working for a nursing agency
Many nurses experience remote health practice for the first time while working for a nursing agency. CRANAplus has invited Corporate Member Verus People to answer your frequently asked questions…
Culturally appropriate palliative care on Country
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people express the wish to be cared for, and to die, on Country if possible. When care at home is preferred, it can be provided by clinical services to help…
2022 CRANAplus Member Survey Results
In our 2022 Member Survey, we received responses from Members with varying specialties, employment patterns, experience levels and places to call home – yet a handful of common themes emerged that…
Consumer control in the mental health sector
Giving consumers control to determine their own recovery pathway is at the core of new national mental health standards. The new standards, designed specifically for mental health services provided…