Pilbara Health Professionals Network

02/04/2026

Wishing our incredible Pilbara health community a very Happy Easter 🐣

Thank you for your ongoing dedication, compassion, and care across our region. We hope this long weekend brings you time to rest, recharge, and enjoy with loved ones — and if you are working, thank you for all that you do 🙏

Stay safe and take care 🧡
Pilbara Health Professionals Network

01/04/2026

Are you a health professional living and working in the Pilbara? Join our private Facebook group to connect, collaborate, and support one another 🤝

🔒 This is a private group exclusively for health professionals based in the Pilbara, creating a safe and relevant space for local connection and collaboration.

This space is designed for you to:
✔️ Introduce yourself and your service
✔️ Ask questions and share knowledge
✔️ Connect with colleagues across the region
✔️ Share education, events, and workforce updates

💡 To keep the group organised and valuable for everyone
Before posting, please make sure you’re following the group rules and that your post fits within one of our Guides.

📌 Group Guides include:
• About the PHPN – Network info, mission, and updates
• Pilbara Health Services & Directory – Local services and key contacts
• Scholarships & Grants – Funding opportunities
• Networking & CPD Opportunities – Events and education sessions
• Health Professional Job Opportunities – Roles across the Pilbara (please include key details)
• Community Health Programs & Initiatives – Programs for referral and collaboration (include key details)
• PHPN Member Spotlight – Celebrating our members and their work

🚫 This group is not for ongoing business promotion to clients — it’s a space for Pilbara health professionals to connect and support each other.

👉 Join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/984314048665444

30/03/2026

📢 Introducing Access Health WA “Where to Go When” Campaign

Access Health WA is a new State Government initiative designed to help the community better understand their healthcare options — and confidently choose the right care for non-life-threatening conditions.

The platform provides clear, trusted guidance on where to go, including:
✔️ GPs
✔️ Urgent Care Clinics
✔️ Pharmacies
✔️ 1800MEDICARE
✔️ After-hours advice
✔️ WA Virtual Emergency Department

💡 Why this matters for clinicians
• Supports better patient flow across the health system
• Encourages earlier care-seeking, improving outcomes
• Provides consistent, reliable information you can confidently direct patients to

👩‍⚕️ Your role matters
Clinicians are one of the most trusted sources of health advice. Referring patients to Access Health WA helps guide safe decision-making and empowers patients to understand their care options.

📍 Resources available
Clinician-ready posters, digital assets, screen content, and messaging are available to use in your practice, waiting areas, and service points.

👉 Click link here: https://access.health.wa.gov.au/

26/03/2026

🌟 PHPN Member Spotlight – Charina Townsend

Today is Thank Your Pharmacist Day! We are thankful and proud to shine a spotlight on Charina Townsend, a pharmacist at Pharmacy 777 Port Hedland, bringing over 15 years of experience as a healthcare professional.

Charina is deeply passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of her community. She is currently undertaking postgraduate studies — a Graduate Certificate of Advanced Practice and Prescribing for Pharmacists — placing her on the pathway to becoming one of the first 40 pharmacist prescribers in Western Australia, and one of only two chosen from the Pilbara region 👏

Beyond her professional role, Charina is a dedicated community leader. She is currently:
• President of the Port Hedland Primary School P&C Association
• General Committee Member of the Port Hedland Turf Club, where she coordinates Ladies Day and Family Day Fashions on the Field events

As we come to the end of March, we’d also like to recognise Charina as one of our incredible PHPN members who co-presented on at the Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce Inc 2026 Women in Business Luncheon Series, celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday 6 March 💜

Charina’s commitment to both her profession and her community reflects her drive to create meaningful impact in the Pilbara and her dedication to supporting others to do the same.

👏 Thank you, Charina, for your passion, leadership, and contribution to improving health outcomes across the Pilbara!

25/03/2026

A special shoutout to one of our incredible midwives here in the Pilbara — Sheree Davies 💛

If you haven’t already, take a moment to click through to the original post and read the comments from local mums. The outpouring of gratitude says it all — highlighting the compassion, care and support Sheree brings to such a significant moment in families’ lives.

Thank you, Sheree, for the difference you make every day ✨

24/03/2026

✨ Guess who’s coming to the Pilbara…

We’re excited to welcome Dr Ramya Raman — Specialist GP, RACGP Vice-President and RACGP WA Chair — to deliver an upcoming education session on:

🩺Perimenopause & Menopause: Clinical Management & Culturally Responsible Care

Ramya is a Perth-based Specialist General Practitioner and a highly respected leader in primary care, governance, and advocacy. She is currently Vice-President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Chair of RACGP Western Australia.

She is also Director of The Garden Family Medical Clinic (Piara Waters), with a strong focus on women’s and children’s health, particularly perinatal wellbeing.

Ramya was awarded the 2020 Aspire Award, presenting her postnatal recovery research at WONCA Asia Pacific, and was named RACGP WA GP of the Year (2020). She is also Discipline Head of General Practice at The University of Notre Dame (Fremantle), supporting the next generation of GPs.

📅 Tuesday 9 June 2026
📍 Available to all Pilbara health professionals
💻 In-person + Online options available
🍽️ Please note: limited spots for the in-person dinner

📧 Register your interest:
Email phpn@ruralhw.com.au
and let us know if you’d like to attend in-person or online — we’ll notify you as soon as registrations open.

👉 Tag a colleague who would love this session or share with your network!

A special shoutout to our PHPN associate stakeholder RACGP, for collaborating to make this event possible.

23/03/2026

🚨UPDATE! Unfortunately, due to Cyclone Narelle eMHPrac had to postpone the event scheduled for tonight in Karratha. eMHPrac is currently planning to reschedule for late April or early May, after the school holidays, and will confirm the new date within the next week.

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Education Dinner: eMHPrac Mental Health Training | this Thursday 26th March
📍 Karratha International Hotel (Goldfinch Room)
🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm
✨ SPACES STILL AVAILABLE

Join us for an informative and practical evening focused on strengthening mental health care in our region.

Come and meet:
• Heidi Sturk – Director of eMHPrac (Australian Government-funded program supporting clinicians with digital mental health tools)
• David Edwards – Director of WellMob, providing culturally safe social and emotional wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Dr Jan Orman – GP with extensive experience using digital mental health tools in practice

This session will help you:
✔️ Build confidence in using digital mental health tools in clinical practice
✔️ Improve access to evidence-based supports for patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions
✔️ Strengthen su***de prevention through a stepped care approach
✔️ Enhance culturally responsive care, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

🍴 Enjoy a free dinner while connecting with local colleagues and learning practical skills you can apply immediately.

👉 Tag a colleague or share with health professionals in the Pilbara who would benefit from this session!

eMHPrac is bringing practical, evidence-based digital mental health training to Western Australia, in partnership with WA Primary Health Alliance.

20/03/2026

A massive congratulations to our three Pilbara representatives who were named finalists at the 2026 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards held on Saturday 14 March.

🌟 Amy Pederson – Pilbara Kimberley University Centres
Nurse or Midwife of the Year

🌟 Emma Calusinski – Pilbara Therapy Services - Pilbara Physiotherapy
Young Health Professional of the Year

🌟 Samantha Barba – PAHA - Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance
Clinical Leader of the Year

This recognition reflects not only their outstanding work as health professionals, but also the significant impact they continue to make on health outcomes across the Pilbara community.

18/03/2026

📸 Some highlights from the 2026 WA Rural Health Conference over the weekend, with our Pilbara health professionals well represented!

We were lucky to see some fantastic presentations from our Pilbara colleagues:

✨ Aileen Mathyssen – Occupational Therapist, Thrive Together Therapy
Busy Brains: Innovative Support for Children on Paediatric Waitlists

✨ Chantelle Pears – WA Country Health Service – Pilbara
NEARER SCAN Study: Implementing a task-sharing strategy to improve RHD diagnosis and care

✨ Millie Caddy – Clinical Services Manager, Connect Paediatric Therapy Services
Beyond FIFO: An ecologically focused hybrid outreach model for paediatric care

Such an incredible showcase of innovation, collaboration, and dedication to improving health outcomes across the Pilbara.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to say hello – it was great to connect!

🎁 Don’t forget – the HPN Annual Survey is still open! Complete it for your chance to win a $100 Visa gift card (one winner per region).

Your feedback plays a vital role in shaping future education, networking opportunities, and support for health professionals across regional WA.

🔗 survey link in comments

14/03/2026

Day 2 of the 2026 WA Rural Health Conference!

It’s fantastic to see 32 health professionals from across the Pilbara attending this year’s conference.

If you’re here, pop by the HPN booth to say hi to Alisha! 👋

While you’re there, take a few minutes to complete the HPN Annual Survey for your chance to win:

🎁 An extra $250 gift card – exclusively for conference attendees this weekend
🎁 Plus our annual survey prize – one person from each region will win a $100 Visa gift card

Your feedback helps shape future education, networking, and support for health professionals across regional WA.

Come say hello and have your say!

Rural Health West

12/03/2026

🕕 Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
📆 Date: Thursday, 26 March 2026
🍽️ What: Free Education Dinner

💡 CPD Info: Workshops can be claimed for Educational Activities CPD by self-report to RACGP or ACRRM.

📢 Help us spread the word! Tag your Pilbara colleagues or share this post with anyone who would love to attend.

eMHPrac Digital Mental Health Training Workshop – Karratha Karratha AWST 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 26 March 2026 Register Now Organizer eMHPrac Are you based in WA and looking to strengthen your approach to digital mental health care? This March, eMHPrac, in partnership with the WA Primary Health Alliance...

05/03/2026

Travel and accommodation needs-based grants are available for travel to Hedland to attend.

It’s FREE to attend 1 day workshop

📧danielle@liver.org.au for more information

A practical workshop to strengthen liver health knowledge and nursing care in regional, rural and remote Australia.