2023 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards – Allied Health Professional of the Year Award
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Congratulations to the finalists for the 2023 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards – Allied Health Professional of the Year Award
Sarah Tomlinson - WA Country Health Service Kununurra?
Sarah Tomlinson completed her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine at The University of Western Australia in 2019.
In 2021, she made a move to the Kimberley as part of the Kimberley Foot Initiative, making her the first WA Country Health Service podiatrist to be based in the region in fourteen years.
She successfully established the first Interdisciplinary High-Risk Foot Clinic for WACHS in the Kimberley, based out of Broome Hospital. She also hosts outreach clinics in Derby and Fitzroy Crossing, as well as offering virtual clinical support for health professionals in the East and West Kimberley.
Sarah has since created regional referral pathway documents, diabetic foot ulcer protocols and a Charcot Neuroarthropathy pathway, and is working towards formalising an acute diabetic foot inpatient pathway for the region.
She is also involved in hands-on education of regional/remote clinic staff, in neurovascular foot assessments, diabetic wound management and clinical escalation pathways, and regularly hosts podiatry students visiting the region.
Sarah is also involved in junior doctor teaching and delivering presentations at chronic disease forums, Aboriginal Health workers conferences, and various other conferences across Australia. She also sits as the Kimberley representative on the WA Diabetes Health Network High-Risk Foot working group.?
Sally Rogers Earl St Physiotherapy
Sally Rogers began her rural physiotherapy career in Merredin in 1981 and has been servicing communities within the Wheatbelt and Great Southern since then.
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For the past twenty years, she has been based in Narrogin, providing private physiotherapy sessions at Earl St Physiotherapy.
Sally set up clinical pilates classes in Narrogin, using her equipment in the local gym. She also runs hydrotherapy sessions and conducts personal home visits.
Sally has supervised many students and new graduates in the region and has mentored fellow physiotherapists in setting up their own businesses.
Biannually, Sally hosts a walk challenge, raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service WA. In 2021, they raised close to $10,000.
More recently Sally has been travelling around rural Australia as a locum physiotherapist, allowing local physios to take a break while their clients are in good hands.?
Alex Craig Karratha Eyecare
Dr Alex Craig grew up in Zambia, where access to consistent healthcare was a challenge.
He moved to Karratha from Melbourne in 2015 after completing a Doctorate of Optometry at the University of Melbourne.
In partnership with Dr Angus Turner of Lions Outback Vision, Alex established a hospital-based telehealth model of patient triage, intervention and management in Karratha, Hedland and Exmouth.
After working for four years in corporate optometry, Alex opened Karratha Eyecare in 2019, which is the Pilbara’s first private optometry practice.
Alex has a passion for education and hosts students while on placement in the Pilbara.
He recently finished his CASA credentialed optometry qualification and is a board member for Karratha Central Healthcare.
He also chairs the UWA optometry regional and indigenous eye-care advisory committee and serves Optometry Australia with advice on topics such as professional development and depth of professional scope.?