Build 'Em Up

In Episode 12 we chat with Kylie Toynton, a speech pathologist from Gunnedah in north-west NSW who is building a digital service – with the support of an nbnTM Innovate grant – to offer synchronous online allied health therapy and training packages for parents, teachers and schools.

In Episode 18 of Build ‘Em Up, we hear from delegates to the 16th National Rural Health Conference (NRHC), held on 2-4 August 2022 in Brisbane, on their motivations for working rurally, as well as their suggestions to improve rural health service delivery.

We hear stories of courage and resilience, and the strong partnerships built to improve rural health care accessibility. Thank you to all speakers for their suggestions and for highlighting that bridging health care gaps needs strong commitment and comprehensive strategies.

Following are the speakers in Episode 18: Andrew Coe, CEO Western NSW Primary Health Network; Lucy Bliss, James Cook University; Dr Kim Houghton, Regional Australia Institute; Dr Joan van Rotterdam, Australian Chiropractors Association; Prof Sabina Knight, Central Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health; Alynda Wayman, Manager, COVID-19 Vaccination Program, GV Health; Dr Helen Roberts, Clinical Director, GV Health; Prof Julie Satur, University of Melbourne Dental School; Marianne St Clair, Managing Director and Senior Research Fellow, Simbani Research; Vicki Wade, Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia; Erin Ferguson, Paediatric RHD Clinical Nurse Consultant, Queensland Health; Dr Richard Colbran, CEO NSW Rural Doctors Network; Joyce Tan, Royal Flying Doctor Service; David Lim, Curtin University, School of Population Health; Mike Stephens, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation; Baneen Alrubayi, National Rural Health Student Network; Nicola Murphy, National Rural Health Student Network; Josephine Canceri, Western Sydney University, School of Medicine; Kara Milne, NT Health; Christine Giles, Portland, Victoria.

In Episode 19 of Build ‘Em Up, we chat to Stephanie Trethewey, founder of Motherland, about her journey as a mother and how she became passionate about supporting rural mothers across Australia. It takes a village to raise a child, but according to Stephanie, it can be a challenge to find that village in parts of rural Australia. Motherland, therefore, is an online platform for rural mothers craving social connection and emotional support through the seasons of motherhood.

Episode 16 of Build ‘Em Up is guest hosted by Jennifer Ganske, National Tourism and Arts Head at NBN. She chats to Paulene Mackell from the National Ageing Research Institute about the “Art centres supporting our elders” research program, looking at the impact of the Community Controlled Art Centres model of Indigenous Art Centres on connectivity and health and wellbeing.

In this first episode of Build ‘em up, we Zoom-link with Torres Strait Islander Elsie Seriat who is an inspirational mum of two young boys. Elsie has many PBs (personal bests) to her name, including an OAM for service to her community, crossing the finish line in the New York Marathon and encouraging her mum – and many in her family and communities across Australia – to take up running for health.