Belinda Wozencroft
Flying out of Port Hedland bound for the middle of the western desert I wondered what on earth I was doing. The surge of adrenaline abating somewhat as I realised the enormity of the task I had taken on. At twenty-three I was a young, and relatively inexperienced registered nurse, who had been employed to establish the first permanent health clinic in one of Australia's remotest communities. Why me I hear you ask? I was the only applicant willing to live in such a isolated community with only the RFDS radio for communication and no assurances of constant running water or regular food supplies. As the plane circled the airstrip to land i could see people madly trying to chase the camels off the strip so we could touchdown safely. I chuckled to myself knowing that this was a day I would never forget. Here began the most amazing, interesting and incredibly challenging years of my life.
Establishing a clinic in a remote community is a difficult task and the importance of community participation can never be over emphasised. Right from the start the issues of community ownership and empowerment were being addressed. This was Punmu communities clinic and health programs were developed in consultation with all players - Aboriginal Health Workers, community members, teachers, store keeper and whoever else the program may have been relevant too. Sometimes it felt like there was just a little bit too much ownership as they seemed to own me too! Over the three years I lived permanently in Punmu our most successful programs were always those that were community initiated and driven.
I left the desert to study medicine and am now a fourth year medical student. Every summer holidays I have returned to the western desert to work. Thus over a period of seven years I have been able to observe the changes in these communities and develop an understanding of what they feel works best for them. Once again it is only those programs with the principles of community participation that are ever able to maintain momentum over time.