We know healthcare options in rural and remote parts of Australia can be limited, particularly when it comes to specialist services like aged care. This is why it’s so important to address this shortage and ensure equitable access to care Australia-wide.
Through our tier-one supplier status with the Australian Regional and Remote Community Services (ARRCS), Sanctuary Recruitment is proud to provide healthcare professionals with short-term contract placements in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory.
Founded in 2014, the ARRCS that aims to deliver high-quality aged care, childcare and regional home care services to those in need in the Northern Territory and beyond.
Their aged care residences span from Darwin to Kaltukatjara (Docker River), and they take pride in providing a holistic approach to care, consistently maintaining a deep-rooted respect for all Elders and Aboriginal cultures.
Working side-by-side with ARRCS has allowed us to appreciate the breadth of their programs, which hold the values of compassion, respect, justice, teamwork and learning in everything they do.
Our nursing team, from assistants in nursing (AINs) to nurse managers, regularly undertake contract assignments with ARRCS, often extending their initial placement duration and requesting to return to their home locations to provide support to their communities of origin.
Amanda, one of our AINs who has been working with ARRCS for the last two years, was initially hesitant to travel to remote locations. Now, her preference is to work with Indigenous communities.
“It was a challenge to start, with lots to learn. It didn’t take me long to build up a rapport with the residents, and they are friendly and protective of me now, which gives me a warm feeling of family,” said Amanda.
We observed NAIDOC week 7-14 July, recognising the history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and inviting our staff to learn more about Indigenous history.
During these celebrations, Amanda learned about First Nation traditions at her placement in Alice Springs.
“I spent time with the residents learning how to cook kangaroo tail and damper, a type of bread cooked over the fire.
“Getting to know the community on a personal level allows for our friendship to run deeper.
“Each day is different, and the relationships that I get to form showcase the rewarding nature of being part of the aged care industry.”
At the core of their services is the belief that all Elders deserve proper care, encouraging everyone to live life in all its fullness.
Naresh, who first started working with ARRCS in 2022, describes his time with the residents as full of learning and sharing.
“Every day I come away with having learnt something new. I know the residents really well now and I’m always happy go to back to any of the ARRCS homes,” he said.
“We spend our time together sharing stories and cultural traditions. I now know traditional songs and sing with them.”
Naresh has worked across the country but always favours returning to ARRCS.
“I have always found ARRCS really supportive. I feel so comfortable working with their management and have found that this is a trait that runs throughout their organization,” he said.
“Both the clinical and non-clinical teams are very welcoming and are happy to give me the orientation that I need to set me up for success.”
We are proud to be tier-one suppliers to an organisation that keeps inclusion, diversity and passion as part of its fundamentals.
Together, we can provide care and support to older Australians across the country that they need, want and deserve.
Nadia Bouzenada
Marketing Generalist
Sanctuary Recruitment