{"id":3157,"date":"2025-10-30T15:21:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T04:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/?p=3157"},"modified":"2026-01-08T17:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T06:39:39","slug":"celebrating-the-mentors-shaping-the-nts-future-health-workforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/2025\/10\/30\/celebrating-the-mentors-shaping-the-nts-future-health-workforce\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the mentors shaping the NT\u2019s future health workforce"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flinders University has celebrated the dedication of health professionals across the Northern Territory (NT) at the annual Flinders University Rural and Remote Health NT Supervisor Recognition Awards, held on Tuesday 28 October 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Darwin [L-R] Melba Ridd (MC), David Foster (accepting on behalf of Scarlett Budden), Dr Nadi Pandithage, Kylie Straube, Liam Murphy (MC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>The awards recognise doctors, allied health professionals, midwives and nurses who supervise, teach and support students and new staff in health workplaces. Ceremonies took place across Flinders University\u2019s campuses in Darwin, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, acknowledging those who generously give their time and expertise to shape the future healthcare workforce.<\/p>\n

Flinders University\u2019s Dean, Rural and Remote Health, Professor Robyn Aitken<\/a> says the Supervisor Recognition Awards highlight the vital contribution of clinical supervisors across the NT. \u201cOur health professionals play a crucial role in training students during their placements and supporting them as they learn about remote contexts they may not have previously encountered,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> she says.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Tennant Creek [L-R] Dr Tarun Patel, Mayor Sid Vashist, Hon Steve Edgington (accepting award on behalf of Sarah Edgington)<\/figcaption><\/figure>Each year, Flinders University facilitates hundreds of health placements in the NT. By the end of 2025, Flinders Rural and Remote Health NT expects to have hosted more than 110 NT-based medical, paramedicine and remote nursing students, along with over 750 health students from across Australia.<\/p>\n
\"\"
Nhulunbuy staff with Steve Rossingh (accepting on behalf of Catherine Connor) and Dr Rajendra Pillay (on behalf of Dr Danny Clarke)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These placements provide students with practical experience in rural and remote communities while showcasing the NT as a unique and rewarding destination for health professionals. Professor Aitken expressed her deep gratitude to everyone involved in teaching and supervising. \u201cWe can\u2019t thank the doctors, allied health professionals, nurses and midwives enough for giving their time and sharing their valuable knowledge with students. <\/em>Without their guidance, students would miss the immersive learning experiences that prepare them for their future careers,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> she concludes.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Katherine staff with awardee Natasha Reece<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of this year\u2019s awardees, Kylie Straube, Nurse Practitioner and Practice Owner at Remote Territory Healthcare, says she was honoured to be recognised. \u201cI\u2019ve learned just as much from my students as they have from me,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Ms Straube says.<\/em> \u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to support the next generation of nurses who are courageous, innovative and committed to improving care in their communities.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This year, 18 health professionals and one student were awarded across six major categories for their dedication and commitment in providing support and guidance to the NT\u2019s future health workforce. Now in its eighth year, the awards continue to grow, with 78 nominations received in 2025.<\/p>\n

The full list of recipients:<\/p>\n

Territory Ambassador
\nAllied Health:<\/em><\/strong> Lisa Wark, Alice Springs
\n<\/em>Nursing\/Midwifery: <\/em><\/strong>Sarah Edgington, Tennant Creek
\n<\/em>Medicine:<\/em><\/strong> Dr Dan Wilson, Alice Springs<\/em><\/p>\n

Innovative Supervisor
\nAllied Health:<\/em><\/strong> Dr Nicola Crook, Alice Springs
\n<\/em>Nursing\/Midwifery:<\/em><\/strong> Chester Matthews, Alice Springs
\n<\/em>Medicine:<\/em><\/strong> Dr Tarun Patel, Tennant Creek<\/em><\/p>\n

Commitment to Clinical Teaching
\nAllied Health:<\/em><\/strong> Timothy Corcoran, Alice Springs
\n<\/em>Nursing\/Midwifery:<\/em><\/strong> Catherine Connor, Ramingining
\n<\/em>Medicine: <\/em><\/strong>Dr Yvette Low, Darwin<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Outstanding Regional Supervisors
\nCentral Australia
\nAllied Health: <\/em><\/strong>Amelia Paterson, Alice Springs
\n<\/em>Nursing\/Midwifery:<\/em><\/strong> Nicole Wallis, Alice Springs
\n<\/em>Medicine:<\/em><\/strong> Dr Christine Sanderson, Alice Springs<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Katherine
\nAllied Health: <\/em><\/strong>Natasha Reece<\/em><\/p>\n

Top End (includes Arnhem Land region)
\nAllied Health:<\/em><\/strong> Scarlett Budden, Darwin
\n<\/em>Nursing\/Midwifery:<\/em><\/strong> Kylie Straube, Berry Springs
\n<\/em>Medicine:<\/em><\/strong> Dr Danny Clarke, Nhulunbuy<\/em><\/p>\n

Champion Collaborator
\n<\/strong>Dr Nadi Pandithage, Darwin<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Lifetime Achievement
\n<\/strong>Julia Armenti, Alice Springs<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Trisha Maroney Memorial Prize (awarded to a health professional student on placement within the Katherine region who demonstrates the most significant self-reflection and improvement in cultural safe practice)
\nJennifer Gray <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Flinders University has celebrated the dedication of health professionals across the Northern Territory (NT) at the annual Flinders University Rural and Remote Health NT Supervisor Recognition […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5851,"featured_media":3159,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2863,4199,5306,4206,1625,2777,2796,5301,3540,5311],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alice-springs","category-awards","category-clinical-education","category-events","category-flinders-nt","category-katherine","category-nhulunbuy","category-nt-placement","category-rural-and-remote","category-tennant-creek"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5851"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/mph-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}