AMRRIC, in Partnership with the QLD Department of Health/Environmental Health, conducted "Provision of Sustainable Veterinary Services in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities in QLD" workshops in Yarrabah, out of Cairns, in July 2008. Some of the key outcomes were;

• The training resulted in an increased pool of veterinary service providers skilled to undertake work in remote Indigenous communities in QLD.
• Successful first program in Australia to formally teach these skills. 11 Vets and 1 final year student trained in cultural awareness and veterinary skills for working in rural and remote communities.
• A database of potential veterinary service providers has been established.
• A number of participants became AMRRIC members acknowledging and accepting AMRRIC Code of Conduct and Principles of AMRRIC Dog Health Programs.
• Participants reported a heightened awareness of the opportunities and challenges of working in rural and remote communities.
• Participants gained an increased awareness of animal diseases, logistics of working in communities, and technical skills such as speys.
• Provided participants with a model to undertake dog health programs.
• Initial feedback from participants and presenters is that the overarching program met their needs and provided a basis on which to build such a model over time.
• Established an independent mechanism for evaluation of animal health programs.

Presenters Included; Queensland Health Indigenous Environmental Health Workers and Animal Management Officers, Clayton Abreu, Scott McIntyre, Steven Canendo “Bully? and Eddie Bobongie.  

Dr Rick Speare, Associate Professor, James Cook University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, is both a veterinarian and a human doctor. He is an expert in infectious diseases and addressed the facts and realities of zoonotic disease and public health in relation to domestic animals in communities. Veterinarians going into the field need to be well versed in these facts to enable them to plan programs well and educate householders and AMOs effectively.  

Dr Sophie Constable is a veterinarian with Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Education through Charles Darwin University and a Masters of Educational Studies, focusing on Indigenous education. Sophie is currently doing her PhD student on the Healthy Dog Healthy People project. She addressed educational development for communities, both householders and AMOs. Sophie addressed effective educational strategies for veterinarians.  

Dr Ted Donelan is a Melbourne based veterinarian who has serviced the community of Maningrida and outstations for the past 5 years. This model of program has been successful, sustainable and cost effective for many Indigenous communities. Ted addressed the practicalities of conducting the work in such a way and give tips for in-field practice.  

Dr Jan Allen, AMRRIC Program Coordinator and Vet and Dr Ted Donelan “Flank speys for dogs”. This session was suggested by environmental health staff from Yarrabah with a view to enhance the outcomes for participants and also provide a tangible contribution to the community.  

These resources are accessible to course particpants and members of AMRRIC.