User:Bmt2002

Introduction
CRANAplus is a not-for-profit membership based organisation that wishes to ensure the delivery of safe, high quality primary healthcare to isolated and remote areas of Australia, by supporting health professionals who work in rural and remote areas. CRANAplus is an affordable, grassroots organisation that for over 30 years has provided education, support and professional services to a multi-disciplinary remote health workforce.

Purpose
By promoting the quality and safe healthcare to rural remote and isolated areas of Australia and her external territories.

CRANAplus Vision
"To be the leading experts in remote and isolated health".

CRANAplus Mission
"To promote the development and delivery of safe, high quality healthcare to remote and isolated areas of Australia, by representing, supporting and educating the remote and isolated health workforce".

History
"In 1982, 130 Remote Area Nurses from regions across Australia came together in Alice Springs to put remote health issues on the national health agenda. The challenges faced by nurses working in remote areas and locations were poorly identified or understood. This led to an impetus to establish an organisation to strive for recognition and support of Remote Area Nurses. The term Remote Area Nurses is believed to have been initiated by Terri Ormiston.

In 1983 in Queensland a growing movement and interest in a special interest group was being established. INA – Isolated Nurses Association of Queensland was formed. As interest and awareness grew, in 1985 the name CRANA – Council of Remote Area Nurses of Australia was inspired by Beth Robinson. At the conference in Townsville that year, the official christening of CRANA occurred. The first CRANA newsletter was produced and edited by Margaret Dawson in 1987 and in 1988 CRANA became incorporated under the Associations Act Victoria. 1990 marked significant advancement of the work of CRANA with the release of Standards for Remote Area Nursing practice being published.

In September 1991 the inaugural Executive Officer was appointed to develop leadership of the operations and activity of CRANA. CRANA’s advocacy, led to funding being provided and the much welcomed establishment of the Bush Crisis line in 1997. Continued advocacy and lobbying led to funding being received from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, which enabled the establishment of the pilot program for the Remote Emergency Care course. The success of the program enables funding to still be received today.

The first CRANA office was opened in 1997 in Alice Springs. Subsequent offices were opened 2005 in Alice Springs and in 2009 the offices in Adelaide were opened in Mile End. In 2011 the offices in Cairns were officially opened. A move to new offices in Dudley Park, South Australia occurred in 2013.

In 2006 the reach of CRANA was felt across to Papua New Guinea when a cohort from CRANA went to PNG to teach the Remote Emergency Care Course. A considerable milestone was achieved in 2008 when CRANA, consistent with being a progressive thinking organisation, made a constitutional change to extend membership to all Remote Health Professionals and their supporters. This saw a reflection of purpose and name and the iconic name of CRANAplus was revealed.

In 2016 CRANAplus released the Remote Health Snapshot, which demonstrated the health outcomes for people as a result of their geographical location, along with the impacts of social determinants of health. In 2017,  the release of  the CRANAplus Safety and Security Guidelines for Remote and Isolated Health were applauded by the national health sector".

Current Status
Currently CRANplus endeavours to provide numerous categories for membership to meet the differing and diverse needs of health professionals who voluntarily take up membership of CRANAplus. CRANAplus is a values non government organisation who support social justice, equality and equity for all. CRANAplus respects reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Professionalism of rural, remote and isolated healthcare workers is the underpinning framework of forming the network for these like minded professionals.

Providing support through the development of standards, clinical frameworks, scholarships, grants, mentor programs, education and bush helpline are the backbone of the organisation.

Patron
The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, accepted the invitation and became the first Patron of CRANAplus  in 2013. Mr Kirby’s unwavering work in human rights, championing HIV education and a highly respected legal entity in Australia all bode well for the role of CRANAplus Patron.