Graduate Certificate in Remote Health or Primary Health Care

This NT Health initiative is an exciting new program, which aims to support early career registered nurses with a minimum of 12 months experience post graduate, gain relevant skills, experience and knowledge in Population and Primary Health Care (PPHC) with a specific focus on remote area nursing.

The program is currently being offered across the Barkly District (Tennant Creek) and Top End Health Services including Top End Region (Darwin and surrounds). Participants will spend the entirety of the program within the allocated region.

Participants are required to successfully complete a fully subsidised Graduate Certificate in Remote Health or Primary Health Care from an approved university as part of the program.

Program outline

The program is divided into 3 phases to support the candidate to gain the skills, education and experience to become a Nurse 3 in remote health practice.

• Phase 1 - 6 months - Nurse 2 (N2) Level
• Phase 2 - 12 months - Nurse 2 (N2) Level
• Phase 3 - 6 months - Nurse 3 (N3) level.

Phase 1

6 months (N2 Level)

This is an introductory phase where participants are able to gain the basic principles and practice of PPHC. Participants will be placed in regional urban PPHC settings which may or may not include:

• Prison Health
• Urban Community Care Centres
• Centre for Disease Control
• Hearing Health
• Urban Allied Health and Aged Care Services

Participants will rotate through urban primary health care settings available within each health service region, as determined by educators and area managers (note that not all regions will have the same PPHC services as those provided through major centres i.e. Darwin)

Phase 2

12 months (N2 Level)

In this phase, participants gain skills in how PPHC Remote Outreach programs are delivered, and will rotate through the key outreach programs working alongside the outreach teams. These may include:

• Child & Family Health
• Maternal and Women’s Health
• Preventable Chronic Conditions
• Diabetes Education
• Social and Emotional Wellbeing services.

Depending on the availability of accommodation and support in remote communities, the last six months of this phase may be completed while living in a particular remote community, with a clear focus on key identified program work.

At completion of this phase, participants will be expected to be able to lead and provide services of key programs with the continued support from Remote and Outreach staff. Post graduate studies must also be successfully completed by the end of this phase.

Phase 3

6 months (N3 Level)

This phase introduces the participant to acute and emergency health care in the remote setting. Participants at this phase will live and work in their allocated remote community and be supported in attending to acute presentations gaining appropriate knowledge and skills that will lead to participating in an on-call roster. Program work will also continue during this phase.

On successful completion of the program, participants are invited to apply for remote area nursing vacancies across the NT Department of Health (NT Health).

Program outcomes

• Provide evidence-based best practice to deliver culturally safe health care.
• Incorporate theoretical knowledge to practical provision of care in a remote area context.
• Provide holistic PPHC care to vulnerable populations in remote areas while utilising evidence based best practice guidelines.
• Demonstrate ability to work within the organisations guidelines, procedures and policies.
• Provide high quality acute and emergency care to people living in remote areas.
• Work with the multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the best health care outcomes for people living in remote areas.

Eligibility to apply

• Current registration as a registered nurse or hold a dual degree (registered nurse and registered midwife) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Be an Australian citizen or hold a visa allowing ongoing, full-time employment in Australia (a copy of your visa or passport must be supplied with your cover letter and resume).
• A minimum of 1 year (12 months) recent nursing experience in an acute care setting (including a graduate program).
• Meet eligibility and entry requirements for post graduate study through one of NT Health’s partner universities identified below for 2024.

Conditions of the Contract

Participants will be provided with leave to attend study sessions, however, must be able to work all rostered shifts.

Participants will be required to successfully complete academic course and clinical practice requirements each semester in order to continue the term of employment.

Participants will be required to have the ability to travel to regional and remote clinics.

Fee information

PPHC will subsidise 100% of the cost associated with each unit of study (up to $2,000 per subject). Any course cost beyond $2,000 is covered by the employee.

Students are advised to consider the personal cost associated with choosing a university course where the cost of study exceeds $2,000 per unit.

University fees are paid for by the student and reimbursed through the organisation at the successful completion (a passing grade) of each semester. To be eligible for reimbursement students need to complete part 1 of By-law 41 at the commencement of each semester and part 2 on completion.

University Provider

Flinders University is the only recognised provider for this semester’s Remote Primary Health Care Employed Model Program.

Clinical Requirements

The Post Graduate Employment program aims to support clinicians to acquire the knowledge, skills and capacity to work as a specialist remote area nurse. Theoretical clinical requirements will be provided by the university program chosen by the individual, practical education sessions will be provided by the PPHC clinical educational team.

Application Checklist

This section contains a checklist of compulsory documentation you need to provide with your application through NT Careers in Government Employment Opportunities Online.

• Cover letter (one page summary, including a statement identifying why you want to enter the program).
• Resume (include employment history, existing qualifications and two senior nursing or midwifery referees).
• Certified copy of passport/birth certificate or visa.

Contact

Contact the Remote Primary Health Care Education Team for more info: phceducation.doh@nt.gov.au

karen.williams@nt.gov.au - mobile: 0431 274 007.

richelle.stannard@nt.gov.au - mobile: 0467 066 093.

For all enquiries, email nursing and midwifery in the Northern Territory at nursingmidwifery.doh@nt.gov.au or by calling 1800 000 648.