Originally from a remote sheep station, Alex Thomas is a high-energy, heart-led facilitator, speaker and consultant, with a passion for storytelling, sensemaking and changemaking. From farmers to fishers, truck drivers to tradespeople, community stakeholders to C-Suite – one of Alex’s greatest strengths is simply showing up as herself. She builds trust and credibility quickly, connects with people easily and loves creating conduits for hard-to-have conversations. 

Making health and safety “human” is Alex’s mission, and translating tricky language into practical, relatable takeaways is her mastery. She’s known for bringing “great energy to the room”, has been described as a “Swiss Army knife of safety” and has won multiple awards for her work.

Inspired by her rural roots and her beautiful, late Dad – Chris – Alex is the Founder of From Here to Healthcare and #PlantASeedForSafety – both grassroots initiatives grounded in advocacy, storytelling and social change. Alex is a single mum to two little boys and now lives in Nairne in the Adelaide Hills. 

Dr Alison Dymmott is the Flinders University Lead for Rural Health Transformation within the College of Health and Enablement. She is a well-rounded senior academic with expertise in rural workforce research, interprofessional practice, co-design, and allied health curriculum development.

Ali is a qualified occupational therapist who has worked across metropolitan, rural, and remote settings, bringing practical insight to her academic and leadership roles. She leads and contributes to research projects across Australia, applying mixed-methods approaches to evaluate innovative workforce, training, and service delivery initiatives in both government and non-government sectors.

With a strong commitment to improving health workforce sustainability, Ali has extensive experience partnering with rural and remote communities. She leads a co-designed rural allied health degree aimed at addressing local workforce needs and improving access to care.

Ali is also the President of SARRAH, the national peak body representing allied health professionals working in rural and remote Australia.

RDASA Nominee

Qualifications: BAppSc (SpPath), BMBS, FRACGP (2014), FRACGP-RG (2025)

Dr Alison Lydeamore is a Rural Generalist with advanced skills in emergency medicine, rural general practice and medical education. Originally from Mallala in South Australia, she graduated from Flinders University in 2007 after an earlier career as a speech pathologist.

Since 2012, she has worked across general practice and hospital settings in Port Lincoln on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. She holds roles with the University of Adelaide and the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network, and is a GP supervisor with both ACRRM and RACGP.

Dr Lydeamore is committed to strengthening the rural medical workforce through training, supervision and clinical leadership. She is a current member of the RDASA Board.

Clifford Warrior is a community minded Aboriginal man who has spent more than 14 years working in Social and Emotional Wellbeing. His experience spans mental health, drug and alcohol support, men’s health, and guiding people through some of the tougher moments in life. Clifford is driven by a genuine belief that strong communities grow from knowledge, connection, and support. He puts this into practice by helping people understand mental health, mentoring young people, and creating spaces where men feel safe to talk and be heard. Outside of his professional work, Clifford stays connected through coaching local sports, using the power of teamwork and culture to build confidence, resilience, and positive change across his community.

Wirangu 

Dean has spent his working life in community services, Aboriginal Education and Aboriginal Health, advocating for better health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Dean is committed to culturally respectful care, community strength, and positive change.

Professor   Debra Rowett PSM, Professor of Pharmacy and Co Lead Interprofessional Learning and Collaborative Practice, College of Health, Adelaide University. Debra is also the Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Beyond the Gap, Aboriginal Health, SA Pharmacy and previously Director, Drug and Therapeutics Information Service (DATIS), Southern Adelaide LHN. Debra serves on a number of local and state advisory committees including having served on the Drug Utilisation SubCommittee of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee for more than 20 years. Debra has worked extensively in the area of quality use of medicines, Health Technology Assessment, interprofessional collaborative practice, health policy and workforce development in Australia and internationally.

Dr Lisa White is a Rural Generalist Anaesthetist from Kapunda in rural SA.  She is the Deputy Head of Education for Adelaide University Rural Health medical program.  She is also the Regional Director of Training for Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) in South Australia.  Lisa is a passionate medical educator who loves teaching at various points along the rural medical pipeline with a particular interest in simulation education.    Lisa is dedicated to partnering with rural health teams to provide safe and supportive learning environments to improve care for rural communities across SA. 

Emma Hiscock is a Senior Nursing Academic at Adelaide University Rural Health, with a strong focus on rural health and interprofessional education.  She has a keen interest in creating opportunities for students to engage in interprofessional learning, fostering collaboration across disciplines to improve healthcare outcomes.  In 2017, Emma and her team established the delivery of online interprofessional education sessions for health students undertaking placement across rural South Australia.  Students have reported these experiences as valuable in enhancing their understanding of different disciplines and their roles within healthcare.

Gretchen has over 25 years senior management experience in health services planning and delivery.  She has extensive experience working with a broad range of health and hospital services organisations, health care professionals, and community and consumer groups across areas including health workforce and services modelling, workforce training, chronic disease management, mental health, and Indigenous health, in metropolitan and rural settings. 

In her role with RDWA, Gretchen has responsibility for a diverse portfolio that spans the medical workforce continuum, encompassing the delivery of attraction strategies working with the high school and university sector to reach and support rural students and those with rural intent to pursue medical careers, through to medical workforce training, workforce attraction and retention strategies, responsibility for the delivery of a visiting medical workforce to rural and remote areas of SA, and management of the South Australian Virtual Emergency Service (SAVES).

James is a Senior Aboriginal Project Manager with the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network and Physiotherapist.

James holds a high passion for Aboriginal Workforce and development, especially for developing education opportunities for Aboriginal people on country.

He has been a part of Eyre and Far North’s initiatives for Education on Country, and Aboriginal Workforce which has resulted in TAFE SA re-launching its Diploma of Nursing Certificate in Port Lincoln in partnership with the Port Lincoln Hospital, Eyre and Far North’s Strategic Partnership with the Port Augusta Technical College, including other innovations to improve Aboriginal workforce across Eyre and Far North LHN.

Being a product of the Eyre Peninsula, James understands what’s required for young people to achieve tertiary education and the barriers that are present, which is why his passion to develop better pathways to further education and opportunities for future generations is so strong. James holds a professional voice amongst the Aboriginal Community in Port Lincoln through his Senior Project Manager role and his Physiotherapy background, he is able to provide a unique len.

James sits as an Aboriginal Clinical Council Member and a cultural advisor for the Country SA PHN, and a management committee member for the Port Lincoln Children’s Centre.

Joyti is a Physiotherapist with extensive clinical and leadership experience in Rural and regional public health settings in Australia and NZ. She has a passion for student education which lead her to become an Academic in more recent years. She has facilitated Interprofessional learning activities as a clinician for students and more recently implemented an Interprofessional Falls and Balance clinic at the Rural Health Clinic based in Whyalla.

A/Prof Katrina Morgan is Deputy Director of the Adelaide Rural Clinical School (ARCS), part of Adelaide University Rural Health, and is responsible for curriculum and assessment design and delivery to rural students in longitudinal placement. This role involves mentoring both students and staff to foster the growth and development of the rural health workforce. She is a rural doctor with over 25 year’s experience living and working in rural communities. She has completed a Masters of Health Professional Education and has a strong interest in how educational theory informs interprofessional learning practice.  

Lain Montgomerie is a Community Development Officer with Mentally Fit EP, where she works to strengthen mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and community wellbeing across Eyre Peninsula. Passionate about creating meaningful connections, Lain focuses on building local capacity through education, collaboration, and community-led initiatives that support self-determination and help-seeking.

With a background in community engagement and lived understanding of the challenges faced in regional communities, Lain brings a practical and compassionate approach to mental health promotion. Her work often involves partnering with local organisations, sporting groups, schools, and community leaders to create safe conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.

Lain is particularly interested in how communities can foster belonging, reduce stigma, and support people before they reach crisis point. Through her work with Mentally Fit EP, she advocates for accessible, community-driven approaches that empower people to look after both their own wellbeing and that of others.

Penny Williams is a passionate local leader, community volunteer and General Manager Prosperity at the District Council of Streaky Bay. With more than 20 years’ experience in local government across a range of disciplines, Penny brings strong practical knowledge, strategic insight and a deep commitment to regional and remote communities. She holds a Bachelor of Community and Sustainable Development and has a strong understanding of the interdependent systems that support community resilience, liveability and long-term wellbeing. Human wellbeing sits at the heart of her work, whether through Council, advocacy or volunteering. Penny is a volunteer board member of the Streaky Bay and District Medical Clinic, a volunteer with Thrive Wellbeing, and contributes to a number of sport and recreation groups across the district. She is a proud advocate for regional and remote people, places and opportunities, driven by genuine passion for her community, its strengths, shared prosperity and its future.

Was born and grew up in Port Lincoln. Attended the Kirton Point Primary School and Port  Lincoln High School.

Has worked at PLACC as a trainee Receptionist at the age of 17 years of age, then moved to Adelaide to work with the Aboriginal Housing Board for 3 years, then back to Port Lincoln to work as Executive Assistant with the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service.

Sharon has since worked with many other organisations and Government agencies since her return from Adelaide such as Co-ordinator for the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, Co-ordinator of the IPSS program of Uniting Country SA  and as the Aboriginal Community Education Manager with the Department for Education. Sharon has done a full circle back to where she started at the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Community Council Inc where she now currently works as Administration officer.

Sharon gained a Diploma in Social Science and Management with the University of South Australia back in 2001 and her qualification has helped her throughout her many years of work and communication with the Port Lincoln community and afar.

I am the Regional Director of Training for the RACGP in South Australia. I am originally from Scotland, trained as a doctor in Manchester and completed my GP training near Edinburgh. Over the past thirteen years I have worked in GP training in South Australia across four organisations. I am passionate about as many GP registrars as possible experiencing rural medicine in the hope that many continue to practice rurally and serve rural communities. I am also passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and promoting primary care as the centre of the Australian healthcare system.   I married into a Port Lincoln farming family and now live on a hobby farm in the Adelaide Hills. 

My name is Tosha Sambo and I am a proud Gubrun Woman from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia with strong family connections to the Barngarla people in Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Port Augusta, South Australia. I currently live in Port Lincoln “Kallinyalla” South Australia.

My professional experience is derived from working in the Commonwealth Public Service and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in the States of Western Australia and South Australia. 

With a background in the health industry I have an extensive knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed practices, infant-child and maternal health and Aboriginal health and wellbeing. 

I possess Governance, HR and finance skills and experience serving as a Director and Executive Director on various Boards including the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service, NAIDOC, Family Incorporated Associations and a Native Title Trust Group.

I am FVLSAC’s representative with the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network and the First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence Board of Directors.

I was appointed to the Aboriginal Partnership Committee established through a formal partnership between the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence and the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON).

I am the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Family Violence Legal Service (SA), which has offices located in Port Lincoln, Port Augusta, Ceduna and Adelaide.

Through my work within the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence sector, I work alongside a multidisciplinary team within the context of a Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, to ensure culturally appropriate and holistic services are delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities in the regional, remote and metro areas of South Australia. 

I am passionate about supporting Aboriginal self-determination and choose to see the best in people, in addition to encouraging others to embrace the rich culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. 

My positive attitude by nature motivates others to chase opportunities for growth, inspiration to overcome challenges in life and to advocate and amplify the voices of the most vulnerable people, that I represent.