The End

Times up ...  well almost.  There's still a bit to do before we fly out.  I'm going on an outstation visit to Fossil Head.  Joy will scratch at the mountain of yet-to-do health reviews and management plans.

It's Stuart's last day as well.  He has been the clinic manager as well as a Remote Area Nurse for the last year or so.  He's open about it being a tough time, and he's ready to go.  We've looked around at the other staff here who we have got to know, but really hardly know at all.  For some, the crusty exterior protects against the all too frequent coming and going of new staff.  There are ideas about how to increase ownership by local people, but no-one really knows how to implement them.  It's particularly hard when the wage for a Health Worker is much the same as the unemployment payments.  It doesn't even seem to be clear where the policies and directions for the clinic and health work here are made.

We're sad to leave.  This has been a rich and  challenging experience.

We are already planning our next locum here.  Wadeye has got under our skin.