Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) has launched a new campaign to promote General Practice as a career through the inspirational real-life stories of GPs across the region.
NTGPE's Our Community, Our Health campaign profiles NT-based GP registrars, supervisors, and medical educators who help contribute to rural and remote health care in the diverse, challenging, and unique training environment of the Territory.
The campaign will be featured across NTGPE’s digital communication channels including website, social media and other electronic marketing tools, while the stories will also be featured on print resources such as brochures, posters and signage.
NTGPE Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pincus said the human interest stories recognised the value of GPs across the NT, celebrating exceptional individuals who go above and beyond to care for their patients and local communities.
“This campaign is all about sharing the stories of these inspirational doctors, and why they chose the NT to either undertake their GP training, or become a GP supervisor or educator in the Territory,” said Mr Pincus.
“There are several common themes highlighted in this campaign as to why the NT is a great place for GP training.
“The stories demonstrate our very strong focus on rural and remote health, which includes providing a holistic way of practising medicine that cannot be found in a city environment.
“They also show how we have attracted doctors to the NT through a structured, pastoral program which ensures GPs in training are supported and gain experience and cultural awareness, specifically in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
“I’d like to thank all the registrars and supervisors who took part in the campaign, sharing their journeys and illustrating that there is no better place in Australia to undertake GP training than in the NT.”
One of the stories highlighted is that of GP registrar Dr Katie Jeffress, a Harvard graduate of Cherokee heritage and also a breast cancer survivor, who is currently undertaking her GP training in the Tiwi Islands.
The campaign introduces Dr Catherine Pendrey, originally from Melbourne but now based in the remote NT community of Lajamanu, pursuing her passion for remote health.
Another story focuses on Dr Ralph Mangohig, originally from the remote island country of Palau and now working as a medical educator in Alice Springs, supporting GP registrars in training.
“We work with colleges, healthcare providers, medical educators, cultural trainers, and supervisors to offer a GP training program that leads the nation in culturally competent and varied training opportunities,” said Mr Pincus.
“These stories show how NTGPE’s foundation of experience, relationships, and local knowledge of healthcare delivery, especially in rural and remote Australia, ensures a world-class program and delivery of GP training.”
NTGPE is the sole provider of the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program in the Northern Territory.
To find out more about NTGPE’s Our Community, Our Health campaign, visit https://ntgpe.org/about-us/northern-territory-general-practice-education/our-community-our-health