Three outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners have been recognised today at an awards ceremony at Parliament House for excellence in their fields. 

Due to COVID-19, a decision was made early in the year to change the format of the ceremony and the award categories, with two categories recognised in 2020. 

An outstanding Student Advanced Studies category and an Emerging Health Practitioner category have been awarded today, focusing on the next generation of excellent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care workers. 

The student award recognises the ongoing dedication and commitment of Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to their studies in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Primary Health Care training program.

This year’s award winners are: 

• Advanced Studies: Onika Paolucci - is a proud Iwaidja woman (East of Cobourg Peninsula) and lives in Darwin with her husband and four children. Onika is a registered Aboriginal Health Practitioner, working in the Department of Health in Renal Home Therapies. More recently, Onika has co-led the New Start Dialysis Transition Program. Onika commenced her studies for the Diploma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice in May earlier this year. 
• Emerging Health Practitioner: Makisha Tilmouth - is an Arrernte woman from Central Australia who lives Alice Springs with her two children. In 2019, Makisha commenced as Aboriginal Health Practitioner student trainee with the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress. Makisha aspires to a career in health as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner and to be a role model for her children, family and community.
• Emerging Health Practitioner: Clinton Washington - is a proud Kamilaroi man born in Mungindi (NSW/QLD) now living in Darwin with his wife and two daughters, working at the Palmerston Community Care Centre. Off the back of personal experiences, Clinton developed an appetite for further education, believing it is very important for all Aboriginal people to understand how to improve their health and decreased their risk factors. He is passionate about involving the younger generation early to improve health outcomes

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles: 

“These awards acknowledge our emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioner workforce and our leaders in health.

“Developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through education for frontline health roles is essential, as we know they are often the first point of contact for many seeking health services in their time of need.

“Like many events in 2020, COVID-19 has impacted these awards, however we have seen a particularly high calibre of award winners and I congratulate our winners, highly commended and all nominated on their work in a tough year.”