Janet Fletcher

Department of Health

I am a Remote Area Nurse who came from Qld 31 years ago and have spent the last 30 years managing remote health centres.

I commenced at Kalkaringi, then Barunga, beswick/Bulman; followed by 15 years at Ngukurr and 14 years at Nauiyu.

I have a husband and 4 grown children, who grew up on communities.

As a young girl I had a passion to work as an Australian Inland Mission Nurse and served at Birdsville and The Monument.

I am grateful to be able to follow my passion into NT Remote Area Nursing. I have always walked in partnership with Aboriginal people and have always had the full complement of Aboriginal Health Practitioners where I work.

Over the years I have assisted them in continuing education and my family and I have supported many of our Aboriginal staff to interstate conferences.

During my 30 years working remote I have completed my Nursing degree, Grad Diploma in Midwifery, and Masters of Remote Health Practice. I have also completed a Certificate 4 in Workplace Assessment and Training, and I am studying for a Diploma in Alcohol and Other Drugs at present.

My passion and love of remote area nursing, and also caring for family, has been recognised when I was awarded NT Local Hero in ‘Australian of the Year’ Awards, NT Mother of the Year in Barnardos ‘Mother of the Year’, and also NT Remote Nurse of the Year. I have acknowledged others in their work and made successful nominations for four NT staff to be awarded Order of Australia Medals.