TWO Centralians will travel overseas in the name of research.
The Department of Health and Families employees, Eileen Van Iersel and Prue Walker were awarded Fellowships from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust last week.
Both Eileen Van Iersel and Prue Walker must spend a minimum four-weeks overseas researching projects or issues that cannot be conducted in Australia.
The Manager for Aboriginal Support Service at the Alice Springs Hospital, Eileen Van Iersel will travel to Canada, New Zealand and USA for four weeks to study cultural safety and the use of language interpreters in hospitals.
Mrs Van Iersel said it would provide a great opportunity to learn how health professionals bridge the cultural divide through interpretation in hospitals overseas.
Family and Children Services Acting Senior Manager Prue Walker will travel to Canada to for eight weeks next year to investigate models of care for children with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Ms Walker said she felt privileged to receiving a Fellowship.
"This is really a fantastic opportunity, I am really grateful,' said Ms Walker
"This is really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get the chance to travel abroad and conduct my own research into this issue.
"This will give me the opportunity to come back and with the research, see what would be applicable in Central Australia."
Ms Walker and Mrs Van Iersel are the only Centralians from the NT to receive a Fellowship.
Each year, 120 Churchill Fellowships are awarded to Australians eager to travel overseas to study or research projects or issues that cannot be undertaken in Australia.
Currently the average Fellowship costs $25,000.
Eileen Van Iersel and Prue Walker are available for interviews.
Media contact; Chelsea Rogers on 8951 5123 or 0401 114 113
Date released: 18 July 2008
