The annual pilgrimage of final year chiropractic students to lend a hand in remote communities has been given a stamp of approval from the Western Australian government.
Groups of chiropractic students have travelled to rural and remote regions of Western Australia to provide supervised health assessments since 2006.
Student have conducted more than 15,000 health checks and treatment visits through this free community service over the past 12 years.
Minister for Health; Mental Health, Roger Cook MLA recently offered his support to the popular program with a letter of endorsement and an offer of in-kind support from WA Country Health Service (WACHS): “Many patients in remote communities often find it difficult to access chiropractic services. Many regional and remote areas of Western Australia do not have access to resident private, or public chiropractic services in their local community.”
Over the past 12 years students have delivered chiropractic assessments in Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Wakathuni, Bellary Springs, Jigalong, Geraldton, Mt Magnet, Meekatharra, Carnarvon, Karratha and Kununurra.
Ground breaking endorsement
Senior Supervising Clinician and Placement Co-ordinator Lyndon Amorin-Woods said the endorsement was ground breaking for the chiropractic profession.
“We are delighted Minister Cook has not only endorsed the program but has supported expansion of the program by facilitating the cooperation of WA Country Health Service in the provision of rooms or facilities through relevant regional administration officers,” he said.
“We have been providing services at Paraburdoo hospital for some years, and the support of the Minister provides a further conduit to provision of chiropractic services.
“These include health checks, health promotion and lifestyle advice in management of mainly spinal disorders in other hospitals, community centres and Aboriginal Medical Services across the state.
“I would also like to acknowledge the crucial role played by Dr Bill Hayward, a proud Noongar man, a Murdoch alumnus from 2008 who is thought to be the first Aboriginal chiropractor in Australia.
"We also appreciate the invaluable support from the Minister for Seniors and Ageing; Volunteering; Sport and Recreation, Mick Murray MLA, who has strongly advocated for our program."
The program is delivered by collaborating closely with various external stakeholders including the WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH), the Shire of Ashburton and Gumala Aboriginal Corporation. The Australian Chiropractors Association. Private sector industry in the regions including Sodexo, Toll and Lestock also provide generous support.