Another emerging health leader - Torres Strait PhD graduate
June 26 2009
The awarding of a Doctorate to Torres Strait Island woman, Sanchia
Shibasaki, on Thursday Island tomorrow has been welcomed by the
Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health (CRCAH) as further
evidence of an emerging highly-educated and skilled Aboriginal and Torres
Strait islander health workforce.
CRCAH CEO, Mick Gooda, said Dr Shibasaki represented a new generation
of Indigenous health professionals whose work is playing a critical role in
closing the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples,
and other Australians.
“There is a substantial body of research evidence indicating that the
development of a skilled and professional Indigenous health workforce is an
essential prerequisite for improvements in Indigenous health,” said Mick
Gooda. “Sanchia is the latest young Indigenous person to join this group and I
congratulate her on her outstanding achievements.
“She is living proof that our people are both ready and capable of developing
and managing effective health programs,” he said.
Mr Gooda said that Dr Shibasaki, who received a CRCAH scholarship, was
one of a small group of Torres Strait Islander women to be awarded a
Doctorate.
Dr Shibasaki will be presented with her Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology,
Population Health and Health Services by Torres Shire Mayor, Mr Pedro
Stephen at a ceremony this Saturday at 6.30 pm at the Port Kennedy Hall on
Thursday Island.
Dr Shibasaki, who was born and raised on Thursday Island, started her
tertiary studies with a Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences (Physiotherapy),
going on to work at the Ingham Hospital and then for five years as a resident
physiotherapist at the Thursday Island Hospital before she successfully
completed a Masters degree in Epidemiology and Population Health.
She then moved to the Northern Territory, working in Darwin before
commencing work as a CRCAH Research Fellow at the Aboriginal-controlled
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Primary Health Care Service in Alice
Springs.
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She was granted a National Health and Medical Research Council scholarship
to undertake her Doctorate of Philosophy in Epidemiology, Population Health
and Health Services at the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute,
Australian National University.
Dr Shibasaki said her PhD, the Information Atlas Project, identifies information
management practices needed by primary healthcare services to provide
chronic disease management, with a particular emphasis on diabetes patient
management. Information and health data management is an increasing
challenge for services delivering primary health care.
“A key component of effective primary health care of patients with chronic
diseases is the management of data and of information and the appropriate
use of information technology,” said Dr Shibasaki. “The challenge for the
sector is its capacity and capability to strategically use these information
resources to effectively care for patients with chronic diseases.
“I am very proud that my studies are contributing to improved capacity and
efficiency of health services to properly manage patients suffering from
chronic diseases particularly diabetes which is in epidemic proportions here in
the Torres Straits and throughout Indigenous Australia.”
To compliment her health expertise Dr Shibasaki is currently studying a
Graduate Diploma in Professional Management at Australian Institute of
Management (AIM) and in July was awarded an NHMRC Training Fellowship
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research.
She is particularly pleased to be graduating on her island home so her family,
including father Bill Shibasaki, mother Sariba Shibasaki, her siblings and her
wider family and friends could attend the celebration.
For further information:
Alastair Harris CRC for Aboriginal Health - 0409 658 177
Dr Shibasaki - 0447-040-224
Please note attached photo of Dr Shibasaki and that photos from her
graduation will be available by contacting Alastair Harris on Monday June 29.
NEWS 
