NTGPE offers the following placement preferences as part of the Central Australian Student Placement Program. These packages are intended to give students the opportunity to choose a placement which suits their specific interest in rural and remote area medicine while educating and involving students in the specific health issues of Central Australia and, in particular, those of the Aboriginal population. All placement preferences include a compulsory orientation program (except returning students) during the first week of the placement. During this week students will receive a comprehensive orientation on Central Australia, Aboriginal health and cross-cultural issues.

Placement 1 - Aboriginal Remote Community

This placement focuses on Aboriginal primary health care in a community setting. Most of the communities are located in remote areas. The majority of people in the community are Aboriginal, and English may only be spoken as a second, third or fourth language. Students will work with GP's, RAN's and AHW's and, in some cases, mostly with nurses and AHW's where there is no full-time GP. In most of the communities self-contained, modest accommodation is available.

This placement focuses on Aboriginal primary health care in a town setting. Central Australian Aboriginal Congress in Alice Springs and Anyinginyi Congress in Tennant Creek are Primary Health Care organisations run by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people and controlled by Aboriginal people. They seek to address the health and well being of Aboriginal people in Central Australia. Students will work with RAN's, AHW's and doctors on all aspects of patient care and management.

Country around Alice Springs

This placement focuses on community health care in a hospital setting. Students can spend their time in Tennant Creek Hospital in a number of wards (Emergency, Paediatrics, Anaesthesia, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, or Medicine.)

This placement focuses on town general practice. This is ideal for students who are interested in general practice in a town setting. Students will work with a supervising GP in one of the town general practices on all aspects of patient care and management. (Available to selected programs only)

All placements commence in Alice Springs with a compulsory one week orientation program which provides an overview of Central Australia, Aboriginal health and cross-cultural issues.

Week 1