Putting the Health Workforce Scholarship Program into action

Dr Justin Gladman, an Aboriginal GP Registrar who works for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, received funding from the Health Workforce Scholarship Program in 2017.

Dr Gladman was also one of the first recipients of the Rural Resident Medical Officer Indigenous Cadetship as a medical student and undertook his return of service at Tamworth before joining the Rural Generalist Program.

“I applied to RDN for scholarship funds to undertake the Sydney Child Health Program after identifying that a significant amount of my clinic load was concentrated on children and paediatric care,” Dr Gladman said.

Michael Fisher is an Aboriginal Health Worker at Moree Aboriginal Residential Rehabilitation Service. When he first applied to RDN for Health Workforce Scholarship Program funding in 2017, he received funding to study a TAFE Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD).

“I’m committed to making a difference in rural health and this scholarship is helping me upskill to provide more focused child health care and improved health outcomes for my community of Broken Hill,” Dr Gladman said.

Having successfully completed the course, Michael then applied for additional scholarship funding in 2018 to further his work with other Aboriginal

services to address drug and alcohol issues in the Moree community.

Michael received additional Program funding to undertake a TAFE Diploma of Mental Health.

“A lot of my AOD clients in residential rehab are being treated for mental health issues as well as alcohol and drug addiction. This qualification will provide me with a better understanding of how to further support and help these clients in the local community,” he said.

“As a qualified Mental Health Worker in the local rehab service I’ll be able to better counsel, refer and advocate for our Aboriginal patients suffering from alcohol and drug addictions,” Michael added.