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Welcome to the Kimberley Health Professionals Network

Connecting health professionals from the Kimberley region of Western Australia

The Kimberley Health Professionals Network welcomes health professionals from throughout the Kimberley region of Western Australia.  Registration to the site allows access to extensive support resources not available to general users.

Aboriginal health worker
ATSI health practitioner
Audiologist
Audiometrist
Chinese medicine practitioner
Chiropractor
Clinical psychologist
Counsellor
Community health representative
Dental hygienist
Dental therapist
Dental specialist
Dental medical specialist
Dentist
Diabetes educator
Dietitian
Endodontist
Exercise physiologist
Federal health representative
General practitioner

Health administration
Health agency representative
Health promotion
Hospital doctor
Medical radiation practitioner
Medical specialist
Mental health professional
Midwife
Nurse – enrolled
Nurse – registered
Nurse and midwife
Nurse practitioner
Nutritionist
Occupational therapist
Optometrist
Orthodontist
Osteopath
Paramedic
Periodontist
Pharmacist

Physiotherapist
Podiatric surgeon
Podiatrist
Practice administration
Practice manager
Prosthodontist
Psychologist
Public health representative
Radiographer
Registrar
Resident
Social worker
Sonographer
Speech pathologist
State health representative
Student – health
Student – medicine
University representative

Rose Smith – Oral Health Therapist

KHPN project officer Sara just loves popping into visit the crazy, fun team at Broome Dental.  On her last visit Rose mentioned that she had received assistance from Rural Health West in to her relocation to Broome – so what a perfect person to feature as our member of the month.

What are your professional interests/specialties?  My main professional interest is oral disease prevention and dental hygiene education. I have a huge passion for educating all my patients on the basics of oral hygiene, why oral care is important and the link between oral and systemic diseases. In today’s society there is little dental and oral education outside of the dental clinic and its leads to many people suffering from preventable oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. I really enjoy improving each patient basic knowledge of their mouth and seeing patients return with improved oral conditions. I also enjoy the aesthetic side of dentistry and love seeing the smiles of patients who have had broken teeth restored or undergone teeth whitening!

Tell us, where are you from and how did you get to be an Oral Health Therapist in the Kimberley region?  I’m originally from Perth and moved to Broome at the end of 2021. During my degree we visited family in Broome and absolutely fell in love. A few years later we revisited Broome with our 3 daughters and I was toying with the idea of walking into Broome Dental Clinic and asking for a job, knowing how much we wanted to live here. After a few laps around the block I lost my nerve! We returned to Perth the following day and one week later they were advertising for an Oral Health Therapist! I rung them immediately as I knew this was a fabulous opportunity to fulfil our dream of living in the Kimberley and within the week our fate was sealed.

What do you love about the Kimberley?  It’s definitely a combination of the lifestyle, the scenery and the people! The relaxed, easy going nature of so many people who live here make working and living here very easy and enjoyable.  I’m still so amazed at some of the amazing scenery throughout the Kimberley. You can have be driving next to cascading red rock, down onto pure white sandy beaches and dip into the bluest ocean I’ve seen. It is truly beautiful, and I feel privileged to be able to experience it with my daughters!

Did you always want to be an Oral Health Therapist? Why?  I stumbled across the Oral Health Therapy degree rather by accident. It wasn’t a career pathway I was familiar with and was instantly taken by the idea of treating my own patients, having an extended adult scope and being an independent clinician. I knew that I’d always wanted to have a career in the health industry and being a people person, I wanted a career where I could engage regularly with people.  As a child I always loved going to have a dental check up. So much so, that when my twin sister had to have a tooth extracted, I begged to have mine out at the same time. Our family Dentist popped me in the chair and pretended to take my tooth out to keep me happy!  When discovering the career of an Oral Health Therapist I thought it would be a perfect way to link my passion for engaging with people with my love for the Dentist!

What are your passions?  My biggest passion is engaging with others and helping others. It’s what brings me most joy. I’m definitely a people person and will talk most people’s ears off. I also love being outdoors, being with my children, playing netball and definitely enjoying a drink or two over a beautiful Kimberley sunset.

When you aren’t working, where will we find you? Cape Leveque swimming and fishing or enjoying a sunset drink at Cable Beach!

Network news

Free Face Badges for Health Professionals in the Kimberley

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In these times of Covid where everyone is wearing a mask it can be difficult to connect with people or even recognise them.  I think it must be very scary for patients with less medical literacy to receive care from masked providers, particularly the Indigenous, elderly and children. The Kimberley Health Professionals Network and The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia have teamed up to supply face-badges to health professionals in the Kimberley who are required to wear a mask and other PPE.  These would be in addition to current name tags and are a magnetised pleasant photos of staff so…

Rural Obstetrics and Gynaecology Forum 2022

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Forum Details This forum is part of the WA Country Health Service and Rural Health West Resident Specialist Procedural GP Education Series. The forum has limited places.  Travel subsidies will apply for all eligible delegates living and working in rural and remote WA.  The event will include a mix of lectures, problem based discussions, simulation and skills stations happening concurrently over the weekend.  It will also be an opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues. This forum is pending accreditation with RACGP and ACRRM. Optional Pre Forum Workshops Fetal Surveillance Education Program (FSEP) Friday 29 July 2022 Cost: $280.00…

Rural Generalist Pathway – Applications NOW OPEN

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Penultimate and Final year students with an interest in rural medicine can join the pathway and receive a number of benefits. Access to career guidance in relation to Fellowship journey. Personal mentor Ongoing professional development support.      

Allied Health – COVID Q&A session

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Presented by WA Primary Health Alliance An overview of the current considerations for Allied Health staff working in a high caseload environment, and an opportunity to ask those burning COVID questions. The session will include • Current WA COVID data • Test, Trace, Isolate, Quarantine (TTIQ) • Infection prevention and control update • COVID Care at Home • GP Respiratory Clinics • Q&A (Questions can be submitted during registration) Presenters • Dr Marisa Gilles - Director Public Health Medicine, WA Country Health Service • Ms Sharon Kenny - WACHS Infection Control Lead • Dr Kylie Sterry - GP at Kalgoorlie…

Join the Kimberley Health Professionals Network Committee

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from health professionals living and working in the Kimberley to join our committee.

To express your interest, please complete this application form and return it via email to contact@khpn.com.au