Dr Angela Martin PhD FACPara is the Manager Clinical Practice, Integrated Care for Ambulance Tasmania. Angela has 27 years’ experience working in nursing, paramedicine, consultation, management and research, completing her PhD in 2022, examining stakeholder perspectives on Community Paramedicine. Her qualifications include PhD, MPP, BN, GDipN (Emerg), Dip.ParaSci (Amb), Dip.Mgt.
Great Southern Land. Diversifying community paramedicine models to meet the needs of vulnerable Australian populations
Dr Angela Martin1
1Ambulance Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
Abstract
Situation
Derived from a Latin term meaning ‘southern land’, Australia is an island traversing 7.741 million square kilometers. From the outback to pristine coastlines, 27.2 million people reside across 8 states and territories. With approximately 23 percent of the population aged over 60 years, Australia faces significant challenges and inequalities in health service delivery.
At the heart of our sunburnt Country, remains one of the oldest continuous cultures on earth. Ancestors of Aboriginal Australians are known to have inhabited the land for over 65,000 years, long before European settlement. Colonisation has had catastrophic and long-lasting intergenerational impacts on first nation’s peoples’ physical and psychological wellbeing, with thousands massacred, tortured, sexually abused, exposed to epidemic disease and stolen from their families to be raised in isolation of indigenous customs, traditions and kinship systems.
Task
The challenge to improve health access and outcomes for people living in rural and remote Australia, including Aboriginal people, is complex and multifaceted particularly when caring for populations that harbor trauma and distrust with western society.
Action
This presentation will take attendees on a journey through the red dirt, sandstone cliffs and gorges in the remote Kimberley Ranges, Western Australia, to the pristine Far West coastline of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, to the shores of Van Diemen’s land, through a lived experience lens of a consultant Community Paramedic.
Result
Implementing a community paramedic model within multidisciplinary teams, tailored to meet the needs of vulnerable populations across diverse Australian settings, can enhance health access and outcomes.