Dean's Newsletter - May 2008 - Update on Poche Centre for Indigenous Health

The Centre has now been formally established by the University and Senate has formally approved that the Centre be named after Mr Poche.

The first outreach clinics
The first clinics have been planned for Brewarrina and Bourke. The clinics will run over two days, Wednesday 11 June and Thursday 12 June. The visiting group from the University will include myself (endocrinology) with other specialists likely to be in substance (drug and alcohol) abuse, rheumatology, cardiology, general practice and physiotherapy. Two medical students will join us.

In Bourke and Brewarrina, people on the ground are co-ordinating appointments. Tara Walker, Patient Care & Health Services Manager, Brewarrina Health Service; and Judy Johnson, CEO of the Aboriginal Medical Service in Bourke, are both strong supporters of Poche Centre goals.

Support from the Royal Flying Doctor Service has also been outstanding and so generous that we will be able to restructure the budget of the Centre to enable us to extend, as requested by the donor, beyond western NSW into the Northern Territory and possibly far north Queensland. With a small number of colleagues I have just visited the north and we will continue discussions in this regard. The prospects for delivering health services and developing outstanding opportunities for our students are exciting.

Appointment of Director and/or Co-Directors
There were 18 applications for the position of Director and/or Co-Director of the Centre. Applications will shortly be circulated to members of the selection committee with interviews to be held in July. I look forward to the new appointees taking up their positions. Office space for the Poche Centre will be made available in the Edward Ford Building.

Bruce Robinson
Dean