We spoke with Professor Robyn Aitken about her current role as Dean of Rural and Remote Health, and learned about her adaptable driving skills – on land and on sea. 

What is your role at Flinders?

I’m privileged to be Dean of Rural and Remote Health in the College of Medicine and Public Health. In this role, I work with staff located at 13 sites and within Colleges across the University, along with local community members and health services to provide access to education, research and university partnerships for people living in rural South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Our staff and areas of influence are on the unceded lands of the Arrernte, Dagoman, First Nations of the South East, First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee region, Jawoyn, Kaurna, Larrakia, Ngadjuri, Ngarrindjeri, Ramindjeri, Warumungu, Wardaman and Yolngu people. We have a focus on equity of access for First Nations peoples of these regions to work and study at Flinders University.

What journey brought you to Flinders University?

My first professional qualification is in nursing, and I have worked as a clinician, a health executive and an academic over a career that is too long to mention – because it will give away my age. I began working at Flinders during 2006 in Alice Springs. After some time working in joint-positions with other universities and health care services in Darwin, I returned to Flinders in 2019, where I now spend about a third of my time in SA and two-thirds in Darwin.

What do you love most about your role?

The people I work with.

What are you most proud of?

My contribution to expanding Flinders University engagement in rural and Remote Australia.

How do you spend your spare time?

What spare time?!

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

I grew up on a farm, have a forklift license and can drive pretty much anything on land or sea.