Dr Roxane Craig

21/07/2025

Any Darwin based GPs managing patients with chronic pain ... this Wed night you can hear updates from pain specialist Gavin Chin about assessing and managing persistent pain. Link to event below:

06/07/2020

Update:
What a crazy three months. My change to remote health care coincided with the pandemic, busy in a new world while sorry not to be supporting everyone at Northside. The move to helping provide and support health in remote communities and develop mental health supports has been an amazing opportunity. My current plan is to continue in this role for two years.
Thanks to everyone who has written to me. You are all in my thoughts. Sending best wishes and hopes for a return to normal for us all.

17/03/2020

I am away from Northside Health providing medical and primary health care to some remote NT communities.

Thank you for the joy and privilege of working together with my patients over many years. Continuity of care with one GP is precious, but I hope this change brings the advantage of a fresh perspective with some improved ideas to consider.

Please contact Northside Health NT on 7999 7448 with any queries. The team are happy to continue to provide your medical care.

Stay healthy and stay safe.

(PS If you sing ‘happy birthday’ twice while washing your hands this is about the right length of time for good germ removal).

25/12/2019

Do you apply enough sunscreen?

I was surprised to learn how much sunscreen is recommended to apply to your body. Research shows that sunscreens are effective when applied frequently and liberally.

Creams/lotions need a teaspoon for each limb, front and back of the body and half a teaspoon for the face, neck and ears every two hours. This is one cupped adult hand (30 - 40 ml) of sunscreen for an adult body.

Even more surprising ... when using a spray on sunscreen it is recommended that you use about one third of a can on an adult body for adequate protection!

I clearly need to change my sunscreen application technique. (Of note, avoid sunscreen for babies under six months.)

Stay sun-safe, and in addition to adequate sunscreen, wear sun smart clothes, hats, sunnies and seek out those highly coveted shady spots.

A summary of how the TGA regulates sunscreens and how to use sunscreen effectively

19/10/2019

Over 90% of Aussies don't eat enough fruit and veg. Here are some suggestions from an international group of nutrition experts that look for common ground in dietary recommendations ... Old ways ... they have some interesting tips.

Want to get more veggies? It's that easy. Get 14 more easy tips for eating more vegetables in this article from U.S. News and World Report: http://ow.ly/x5Qy50wHNkx

17/10/2019

Are you drinking your extra kilos or waist cm?

Try our sugary drinks calculator & find out what your consumption leads to: http://bit.ly/SDCalculator

16/10/2019

One size fits all? - Apparently not in weight loss diets

If you are confused about the variety of diets (keto, paleo, low carb high fat, high carb, low energy, low GI etc) , then you are in good company. There is not yet a consensus from the talks.

Talk 1 : calorie restriction extends life and lowers weight. But high protein does not improve insulin sensitivity or sugars.

Talk 2 : low carb gives sustained weight benefits. High protein / fat may make the diet more sustainable long term.

Talk 3 : most diets lack high quality evidence. To lose weight be calorie-wise. Find the balance point of energy restriction vs ability to stick with it as an ongoing healthy lifestyle choice.

So what is the bottom line?

-Consider eating for health rather than weight loss.
-Consider charting food intake as this helps awareness of intake and whether eating for hunger or habit.

Healthy eating helps your heart, reduces cancer risk, helps your immune system, etc. Diets with health benefis had the following recommendations in common:
-100% support fruit, veggies and whole grains
-85% support beans and legumes
-60% support fish and 50% for nuts

Again, happy to provide detailed info post conference for all interested.

30/09/2019

From Pregnant to Parent - Look after your Mental Health

Mood changes can happen to any of us in pregnancy or with a new baby. This can become depression or anxiety, impacting everyone in the family. Help is available through your antenatal team, GP and online supports you can access at home.

“MumSpace” ia a website supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy, and for new mums and their families. It connects you with various levels of support you need - from practical advice (tips on sleep, interacting with your baby, stress & time management, communication and problem solving) to effective online treatment programs for perinatal depression and anxiety.

Below are some sites you may find helpful during pregnancy, and/or in early parenting. Like the answer to baby sleeping/crying - there is no single solution to suit everyone ... have a look through to find which suits your style.

PREGNANCY
- "What Were We Thinking?" has an app, blog and a series of worksheets to give you ideas, knowledge and skills to grow in confidence, to build a sense that you are the expert on your baby, and to enjoy parenthood together. (www.whatwerewethinking.org.au )
- If you have depression in pregnancy then “Mum to be mood booster”is a free 6-session online program designed to help women recover, and includes partner support (www.mum2bmoodbooster.com).
- MUMentum is a $35 online 3-session program for pregnant women experiencing problematic levels of worry, persistent anxiety, and/or periods of low mood and depression. (https://thiswayup.org.au/how-we-can-help/courses/mumentum-anxiety-and-depression-courses/)

NEW BABY
- "Baby Steps" helps parents look after the wellbeing of themselves and their family, with topics on self-care, looking after each other as a couple, making the most of time with their baby, and adjusting to changing roles. There is a special section especially for dads. (www.babysteps.org.au)

PERINATAL DEPRESSION
Perinatal anxiety and depression is a serious illness that affects up to one in five expecting or new mums and one in ten expecting or new dads.

- Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. They run a National Helpline Mon-Fri 9am-7.30pm EST (www.panda.org.au , Ph 1300 726 306)
-“Mum Mood Booster” is a free online program shown to improve mood, and includes a seperate portal for partners. It provides a structured 6-week program, with the option of personalised phone/SMS support. The developers are very aware of how time-poor families with new babies are, so they developed brief sessions over 10 years for maximum impact. (www.mummoodbooster.com)
- MUMentum also has an online 3 session program for postnatal women experiencing problematic levels of worry, persistent anxiety, and/or periods of low mood and depression. (https://thiswayup.org.au/how-we-can-help/courses/mumentum-anxiety-and-depression-courses/)

MumSpace is brought to you by the Perinatal Depression e-Consortium (PDeC), led by the Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI) in partnership with Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), Monash University, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health and Queensland University of Technology.

MumSpace Digital Resources Real support when you need it most. We know what it’s like to need support. With MumSpace you can access supports that are suitable for

29/09/2019

Tonight, across Australia there will be families and friends saying goodbye to loved ones for the very last time. Some will be prepared and they’ll have known this day is coming, there will be rituals, last words and bedside vigils. For others, it’ll be unexpected and a very heartbreaking shock. We don’t know exactly when death will come, but we do know it will come. So we are sending kindness and compassion to everyone this evening - whatever you are going through.