Staff spotlight: Noela and Kelly
Learn more about our Katherine Centre for Disease Control staff.
Meet the dynamic duo of Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Katherine, Noela and Kelly.
Noela is the Clinical Nurse Manager and Kelly is the Clinical Nurse Specialist and together they work across a broad range of public health and surveillance in the Big Rivers region.
They work across an advanced scope of practice within public health and they say it’s not often understood how big public health actually is.
"There are over 100 notifiable diseases in the Northern Territory (NT) and our role at the Public Health Unit includes following these up and working closely with other health care providers and the community,” Kelly said.
On top of public health, they each also look after their own portfolios with Noela specialising in tuberculosis and Kelly specialising in sexual health.
The duo visit communities across the Big Rivers region from Timber Creek in far west NT to Ngukurr in the east and everywhere in between! These visits include but are not limited to undertaking tuberculosis screening and promoting public health messaging. Recently they have been tasked with delivering Japanese encephalitis vaccinations to community rangers and community members in high prevalence areas.
Noela explains the relationships and consultation with health partners, individuals, families and community are fundamental in maximising health outcomes for everyone.
“We work closely with our remote communities to undertake public health responses in conjunction with the health care staff and community members. To do it well, we have to build a rapport with people. This is done best when visiting communities and health centres, and enlisting trust in these communities by physically being on the ground and developing relationships,” Noela said.
“As clinicians, Noela and I love interacting with people in their environment and are passionate advocates in health care and how it can be effectively provided to the people of the Big Rivers region who need it,” Kelly added.
“There is so much culture and diversity in the Big Rivers region. The people and community is what makes it a special place to live and work."
Both Noela and Kelly love living and working in Big Rivers due to its unique environment and people across the vast region. You can learn more about making the move to the region for a great career in health on the Health Jobs website.
