As Metro South’s first Sexual and Reproductive Health Nurse Practitioner, Kathleen Newton is breaking down barriers and busting myths to help the community feel more confident about their health.
Currently working in the Eight Mile Plains Satellite Health Centre’s Minor Injury and Illness Clinic, Kathleen brings specialist knowledge to her role, making her an invaluable asset to the team.
By supporting patients to take charge of their health, she aims to improve long-term outcomes across the community.
Kathleen said this started with education, particularly in an area of health care that was often not openly discussed.
“There’s still a lot of stigma and misinformation in the community about sexual and reproductive health,” she said. “The opportunity to work with such a diverse patient population, and to provide accurate, relevant health care and education to often marginalised groups drew me in, and it has been incredibly rewarding.”
Kathleen said she was proud to see the expansion of Nurse Practitioner (NP) roles with initiatives like the Nurse-led Model of Care helping improve visibility of the NP career pathway.
“Increasing the prevalence and breadth of NP positions not only provides opportunities for budding NPs but also raises community awareness of the diverse roles within our health care system,” she said. “Health is not ‘one size fits all’ and goes beyond the traditional medical model. I firmly believe it’s the combination of the entire multidisciplinary team that provides the best outcomes for our community.”
Kathleen said this growth in NP roles had a direct impact on patient care, with her position in the Minor Illness and Injuries Clinic already increasing the department’s capacity.
“In this way, growing the NP workforce not only supports professional development but also strengthens the accessibility and responsiveness of health services for the community.”
In addition to being excited by changes in nursing, Kathleen is delighted by advances in the sexual and reproductive health field.
“Some of the things I’m excited about include long-acting injectable HIV treatment, which has been a game changer for many people living with HIV by removing the need for daily medication and constant reminders of their status; telehealth STI screening, which makes testing more convenient and accessible; and self-collected cervical screening tests, helping women who previously delayed or declined routine checks to re-engage in care and reducing their risk of late-stage cancer.”