About the Blog
G’day
My name’s Robbo. Well it’s really Andrew, but it can’t be used out here for cultural reasons. So I use my nickname these days wherever I go. (Go here to find out more about this)
I live and work in a remote indigenous community in outback Australia. The blog will not focus on the day to day events but looks at the issues of remote, rural and indigenous health and life out bush. To find out more about me go to my website (I promise to update it soon!)
I am writing this blog for many reasons, so it will probably end up a mishmash of (hopefully interesting) content. A lack of interest and action in these issues by my professional bodies, with the pharmacy owner’s association (Pharmacy Guild of Australia) wanting to control all “community” pharmacist activities through pharmacies I believe is hindering the provision of quality pharmacist services to those in remote, and to a lesser extent, rural areas.
Hopefully other health professionals will also find it interesting and think of a career in remote health. Pharmacy students have to do a rural placement and I am probably the most “rural” pharmacist in Australia. Hopefully they can gain some knowledge from this blog about the issues surrounding remote health.
For the general reader hopefully it can show what pharmacists are or can be involved in other than just standing up behind a counter (where they do make sure the drug and dose are safe for you amongst other things in that “10 minute script”).
I post to Auspharm and where I think relevant those posts will be rewritten and posted here for a more general audience.
Do not hesitate to leave a comment and if the blog interests you please subscribe by email below or via the RSS feed (the orange button below that syas ’subscribe to reader’). If you are unsure please go to my ‘How to Subscribe’ page.
When I can, I also place the occasional Twitter. You can follow me at BiteTheDust
Comments
Comment from Adam Bell
Time 27 August, 2008 at 11:05 am
Hi Mate,
Nice site… looking good.
At the risk of sounding too commercial would you consider a link to our Emergency Locum Service - so any desparate owners who find you, can find us in an emergency sitcho?
No probs if you don’t like the idea.
Take care
Adam @ Ravens
Comment from Robbo
Time 28 August, 2008 at 9:16 pm
G’day Adam,
Just drop off the “At the risk of” and start with “Sounding too commercial”! Howabout I just leave ths blatant plug up here.
Comment from Rollo
Time 3 September, 2008 at 5:25 am
Well done Robbo and the more people we can make aware of the tremendous opportunities for pharmacist professional involvement in Aboriginal health the more we might get the taking of medicines pushed higher up the ladder of priorities as an area for improvement. I remember that a medicine is just a chemical that without information will do nothing.
People like you are getting the information out there and that is the key to pharmacy’s contribution to Closing the Gap and that is far more than 17 years where you work I am sure.
Keep it up
Rollo in Darwin
Comment from Littleozzybloke
Time 5 September, 2008 at 9:26 pm
G’day bloke, just dropped in to wish you well in your endeavours. Big place out there. Take care..
Comment from Noela
Time 13 September, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Hi Robbo. Sounds like you are a man on a mission! … doing a fine job at it, too.
I am one week away from flying north to live and work in Fitzroy Crossing with the Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service http://www.nindilingarri.org.au/index.htm .
Call in and have a chat on next time you are passing.
Comment from Erik
Time 20 October, 2008 at 10:41 am
Great stuff Robbo, Like the phote of you and your assistant. Trained him/her to dispense yet?
Comment from Robbo
Time 20 October, 2008 at 4:13 pm
G’day Erik, She can do almost anything. But she hates to show off her skills
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Time 16 November, 2008 at 5:03 pm
[...] About the Blog [...]
Comment from kirsty lawson
Time 3 December, 2008 at 11:23 am
Hi Robbo. The site looks great - very interesting!
I’ve just started up a gift blog… so if you come across any people or groups in your travels that are making products that can be sold as a gift… I’ll feature them on the blog. They don’t have to sell online - but contact details might help in case retailers or individuals want to contact them directly.
I’m always looking for unusual gifts with interesting stories.
Comment from Robbo
Time 3 December, 2008 at 4:23 pm
g’day Kirsty
Start with Warakurna artists. http://www.warakurnaartists.com.au/ tell Edwina I sent you. They sell through the website and would love any publicity.
have a look at some of her youtube for a feel of the place. http://au.youtube.com/user/WarakurnaArtists
Robbo
Comment from Heidi
Time 3 December, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Hi Robbo — dreamingspires here. Great blog. thumbs up all round.
Comment from Robbo
Time 3 December, 2008 at 5:47 pm
thanks dreaming for the comments
Comment from Mike Cadogan
Time 22 August, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Great stuff Andrew. Loving the blog. Mike