Healthcare in First Nations Communities with Dr Sarah Chalmers

In this episode, we explore the deeply rooted and culturally rich world of First Nations healthcare in Australia with Dr Sarah Chalmers; Rural Generalist, former President of the Australian College of Remote and Rural Medicine (ACRRM), and President-Elect of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.

With over 15 years of experience working in East Arnhem Land and North Queensland, Sarah shares a powerful and personal insight into what it truly means to deliver care in remote First Nations communities, where connection to land, kinship, and culture profoundly shape every aspect of medicine.

Together, we unpack the realities of working in low-resource environments, navigating environmental extremes, and building trust within culturally diverse and remote communities. Sarah speaks candidly about the ongoing impact of racism, the importance of cultural competence, and the role of traditional healing in creating meaningful, community-led healthcare.

This conversation goes beyond clinical care to explore what it means to listen deeply, communicate with cultural humility, and show up for patients in ways that respect and honour their lived experience. It’s an emotional, honest, and essential discussion for anyone working in (or curious about) remote and rural medicine.

This episode is part of our ACRRM series, spotlighting rural and remote healthcare professionals making a difference at the very edges of medicine.

ACRRM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the custodians of the lands and waters where our members and staff work and live across Australia. We pay respect to their elders, lores, customs and dreaming. We recognise these lands and waters have always been a place of teaching, learning, and healing.

⁠Learn more about ACRRM here.

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