Educating to improve population health outcomes in chronic disease: an innovative workforce initiative across remote, rural and Indigenous communities in northern Australia

Prof Janie Smith

qualifications: EdD

contribution: literature review, statistical analysis, designed the project, wrote the first draft, contributed to drafts

position: Director RhED, Adjunct Associate Professor, James Cook University

Australia

Janie Dade Smith is Professor of Innovations in Medical Education at Bond University. She is the previous President of CRANAplus the peak body for all remote health. Janie was previously Director of RhED Consulting Pty Ltd. She is a health educationalist who has worked extensively in rural and remote Australia across all health disciplines and a board range of government and non government sectors. She is author of Australia's rural, remote and Indigenous health, the 3rd edition was published in 2016 by Elsevier Australia. Her particular areas of interest are: innovative education, remote health, interprofessional education, rural and remote workforce issues, curriculum development and Indigenous health.

Prof Kerin O'Dea

qualifications: AO, PhD

contribution: original concept, designed the project, contributed to drafts

position: Previous Director, Menzies School Health, Research Fellow, Melbourne University

Robyn McDermott

qualifications: PhD

contribution: original concept, designed the project, contributed to drafts

position: Pro Vice Chancellor

Australia

Public Health Physician with research and practice in chronic disease epidemiology, prevention and management.

Barbara Schmidt

qualifications: MBA

contribution: contributed to drafts

position: Project Manager

Australia

Christine Connors

qualifications: FAFPHM

contribution: contributed to drafts

position: Project Manager

Australia

Christine Connors is a General Practitioner and Public Health Physician who has been working in the Northern Territory for nineteen years, providing clinical and public health services to remote Aboriginal communities. She is currently the Program Director, NT Preventable Chronic Disease program, NT Department of Health & Community Services. She was involved in developing the NT Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy and has been leading its implementation in the Northern Territory. This has involved shifting the focus of remote clinic staff from acute reactive care to planned pro active care, to reduce the morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases. Christine was a member of the working group that developed the National Chronic Disease Strategy, and is a member of a number of national committees related to chronic diseases. Christine is involved in a number of research projects with Menzies School of Health Research and the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health. She has been working with both government and non government services in a national participatory research project using a quality improvement approach and systems assessment to improve outcomes in chronic disease.