Northern Territory Healthy Skin Program

For several years, members of the College have been involved in a project to undertake research, provide training and give service to remote Aboriginal communities in the Top End of the Northern Territory, to eliminate scabies.

The program, known as the East Arnhem Regional Healthy Skin Program, involves a Project Manager, Dr C. Parker, and other Fellows acting as volunteers, working in targeted East Arnhem communities which suffer from, or are at risk of, contracting tinea, scabies and streptococcal infections. The communities are Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak, Marngarr, Milingimbi, Ramingining and Yirrkala. With funding from a Commonwealth Government grant, volunteer dermatologists travel to these communities to conduct treatment clinics; to study the incidence of these diseases; to develop and oversee community educational programs; to train Aboriginal community and health workers; and to collect data.

The project is expected to run until 2008.