From Perth to the Pilbara: Inside Remote Aboriginal Medicine & PAMS with Cara Sheppard

Cara Sheppard is the Senior Medical Officer at Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS), an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Western Australia's East Pilbara. In this episode, Marcus chats with Cara about what it really means to deliver healthcare in remote desert communities, where cultural safety, chronic disease, and deep-rooted systemic challenges intersect.

From the realities of diabetes in young people to the complexities of rheumatic heart disease, spiritual beliefs, and payback culture, Cara offers a brutally honest look at the highs, lows, and hard truths of her role.

Working with limited resources, vast distances, and the constant presence of cultural nuance, Cara shares:

• The myths and facts about remote medicine

• What makes PAMS unique

• How she juggled becoming a mother while working fly-in fly-out

• The reality behind staff safety and clinical decisions in remote settings

You can find out more about PAMS here.

Acknowledgement of CountryWe acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this episode was recorded and the communities discussed.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening.

We recognise the deep spiritual connection Aboriginal peoples have to land, water, and culture, and honour their enduring presence and knowledge systems, which have existed for tens of thousands of years.