I’m really looking forward to working again with long-term colleagues and developing new collaborations as rural and remote at Flinders enters new and exciting times.

Professor Robyn Aitken has been appointed as Deputy Dean, Rural and Remote Health, in the College of Medicine and Public Health.

Robyn will already be known to many staff in the College for her work in the Northern Territory and nationally, and more recently with the College’s clinical trials team and the nursing program at Renmark.

Robyn has a long association with the University, having held the Deputy Director position at the Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs from 2008–2012. During this time she also played a leadership role in working with the Northern Territory and Australian governments to establish the Northern Territory Medical Program.

Robyn’s professional background and expertise will be an asset to this role and to the rural and remote activities of the College.

In 2009, Robyn’s thesis was recognised as the “most meritorious PhD” with the Judith Parker prize. She has a distinguished record of achievement in the health service and University sectors, and has influenced key directions in nursing, midwifery, and health care more broadly across a range of roles and responsibilities nationally and internationally.

Her leadership, teaching and research spans acute care, primary health care and public and population health. She has expertise in remote and Indigenous health care delivery, teaching and research; health care in low resource settings; health workforce design and innovation; and health professional regulation.

With a long history of interprofessional collaboration for curriculum development, implementation and review, Robyn has led nursing, midwifery and medical workforce development projects in rural and remote Australia, and Indonesia.

Her most recent work is underpinned by a commitment to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and her active role in supporting the work of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

Robyn’s previous experience also includes senior positions in the Northern Territory Department of Health, including as the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer; Executive Director: Clinical Support, Education and Public Health; and senior policy advisor nursing and midwifery education and research.

Robyn currently holds a leadership position in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and we very much look forward to her joining the College in early July.