After graduating with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from Flinders University, Darwin born and raised Rebecca began her career at the Royal Darwin Hospital, where she discovered her passion for rural and remote health care.

“My passion was sparked by the cultural diversity of patients, as well as the problem-solving and spontaneity required when working in areas with limited services,” Rebecca explains.

While working rurally and remotely in speech pathology, Rebecca soon learnt it was essential to seek support from her peers. “Allied health teams hold knowledge outside our own disciplines,” she says, “I’ve learned many multi-disciplinary skills while adapting to supporting patients in areas where we may have to travel long distances. … but if we work together, we can best deliver holistic care for our patients.”

Rebecca Keeley, Flinders alumni and speech pathologist, has spent her career in rural and remote health. Now, she's ready to step up and make a change.

Endless experiences

Rebecca believes she has had many special personal and professional experiences while working rurally and remotely. She had Christmas lunch with a patient who had been placed back on a diet after being nil by mouth (restricted from eating and drinking) during cancer treatment, worked with a mother and baby with a cleft lip and palate to transition back to their remote community in Arnhem Land, and ate stingray with a First Nations community member on a beach, while reminding them of the importance of swallow safety.

“I’ve been lucky to see so many parts of this country that many never will. The lifestyle and individuals who live and work in these areas are unique and welcoming. I encourage everyone to take the dive out into rural and remote areas.”

Rebecca has also provided mentoring to Flinders speech pathology students on placement in Katherine, NT. She believes it is the responsibility of graduates to support the incoming generations of clinicians.

“Rural placements give you the opportunity to experience a little bit of everything … and set you up with a variety of clinical management skills you won’t often get in metro centres on placement. I’ve made lifelong friends from my own rural placements while at Flinders, and I couldn’t recommend them enough.”

Outback Allies

Shortly before the arrival of Covid-19, Rebecca moved to a country town for a new job and quickly realised there was an opportunity to connect rural and remote allied healthcare workers. Rebecca began Outback Allies, a peer support and networking organisation designed to help health professionals working in rural and remote locations. The group provides a safe space for members to openly discuss the difficulties and wonderful aspects of working in these environments and helps reduce feelings of isolation.

Today, Outback Allies has members across Katherine in the NT, Port Headland in WA, Goondiwindi in QLD and across the Murrumbidgee in NSW, made up of speech pathologists, dietitians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, doctors, and social workers.

“Feedback from our members indicates they’re more likely to remain in rural areas when they feel they have a place they can seek support without judgement,” Rebecca says. 

Transforming the future of allied health care

In 2021, Rebecca became the first allied health professional to receive the prestigious 2022 Sir John Monash Scholarship, which is awarded to those who demonstrate excellence in their field, leadership potential, and are motivated to contribute to a better future for Australia. With the scholarship, Rebecca will attend Oxford University in September 2022 to commence her MBA.

Rebecca seeks to leverage the knowledge and skills gained while studying her MBA to pivot into the intersection of health and technology to rethink how we deliver therapeutic interventions. Likewise, she believes there is insufficient representation of allied health professionals in top management teams and boards across Australian healthcare organisations. “This needs to change,” Rebecca says. “I hope to be part of those pushing for increased representation of allied health in the future.”

When reflecting on her journey, Rebecca acknowledges those she has benefited from to reach this point of her career.

“I would never have got here without the incredible health leaders and clinicians I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Healthcare – in particular, allied health care – is a team sport, and we would be nowhere without one another.”