NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERNSHIP
NT PMAS
Northern Territory Prevocational Medical Assurance Services
Staff
Marco Briceno, Associate Professor | Director
Dr Briceno is a Rural Generalist Surgeon, a Medical Administrator and a Medical Educator, who has worked in North East Arnhem Land for the last 12 years.
He is devoted to developing sustainable workforce models, to drive contemporary health reforms, and to design modern and innovative models of clinical care that are applicable to rural and remote settings, and that are culturally appropriate for Indigenous Australians.
Dr Briceno systematically works to inform and influence health policies at the Regional and Territory level, striving to infuse them with a strong focus on the needs of rural and remote medicine and Indigenous health.
Shirley Bergin, Mrs | Manager/Accreditation Manager
Shirley has worked and lived in the Northern Territory for over 20 years filling positions in both the public and private sectors. Her work experience has included the retail and hospitality sector as well as administrative, public safety environments (Police Services, Defence Force, Fire and Rescue) and her passion in the adult education and training field has allowed her to offer and share her knowledge, skills and experience in curriculum development and training in adult education and change management wherever she has worked.
Shirley has qualifications in the disciplines of Teaching, Public Sector and Human Resource Management, that includes a Bachelor in Teaching (Adult Vocation), Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice, Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management, Diploma of Business in both Frontline Management and Human Resources.
Her role with the Defence Force allowed her to acquire knowledge and experience in change management and added experiential training techniques to her tools of blended delivery skills. Through her time in the vocational education and training sector, quality and continuous improvement became a strong skillset that Shirley brings to all of her positions regardless of the sector she finds herself in.
Shirley joined the Department of Health in September 2008 in the role of Principle Officer of the NT Postgraduate Medical Council (NTPMC) at a time of many reviews and changes in this sector, where one of her immediate tasks was to write, customise and implement the NT Accreditation system which included developing Standards for Intern education and training programs in NT training hospitals. She is now the Manager of the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services (PMAS) where she will continue the oversight of the NT Prevocational Accreditation System and continue to contribute her other human resource development skills to the functions of the PMAS as it evolves.
Maria Halkitis, Mrs | Quality Assurance Officer
Maria joined the public sector in January 2014 after having worked for both private and not for profit organisations such as the Lowitja Institute and the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the administrative, contract management and corporate support field.
Maria holds a Bachelor (Hons) in Business and Economics and a Masters in Project Managements, she completed her studies in the United Kingdom before moving to Australia in 2008. She has completed a number of professional development courses with the most recent one being a Diploma of Events through Charles Darwin University where she was also awarded a prize for her studies from the University.
In her current role with the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services she leads and undertakes research and projects, provides financial advice including procurement, credit card management and budget management. Maria also coordinates Prevocational Accreditation services for the Northern Territory accrediting authority. As part of this role she provides advice and feedback relating to Prevocational Accreditation matters, manages, coordinates and maintains accreditation administrative processes, including the promotion and communication with stakeholders. Maria provides secretariat and administrative support to the Prevocational Accreditation Panel and Committee, and assists with the accreditation survey event support responsibilities.
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Eloise Drescher, Ms | Quality Assurance Support Officer |Currently on parental leave
Born and raised in the Territory, Eloise has worked in various roles across both private and public sector, completing an NT Government Trainee-ship with the NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services in 2012. Eloise has since gained work experience in Retail Management, Fitness Group Training and Administration. Before joining the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services, Eloise was living and working in Alice Springs as a Group Fitness Instructor, and prior to that System Performance Support Officer for the Department of Health.
Eloise has qualifications in Business Administration, a Level 1 Certification as a Group Fitness Instructor and is currently completing a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) externally through Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Victoria.
Since June 2018, Eloise has worked in her current role of Quality Assurance Support Officer for the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services. In the role she undertakes and manages various projects including the Intern Application Process for the Northern Territory, coordination of National Data Reporting, managed project deliverables to assist with production of policies and processes, and is the Secretariat and administrative support for numerous committees.Eloise also assists with the coordination of Prevocational Accreditation services for the Northern Territory Accrediting Authority.
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Cherie Hamill, Mrs | A/Quality Assurance Officer
Cherie’s career in the NTPS commenced in January 1985 and since that time she has gained an extensive background in the management of Human Resources, Recruitment and Payroll services and junior medical officer workforces.
Cherie joined the PMAS team in 2020 as the Quality Assurance Support Officer whilst Eloise was on maternity leave. In this role she undertakes and manages various projects including the Intern Application Process for the Northern Territory, coordination of National Data Reporting, managed project deliverables to assist with production of policies and processes, and is the Secretariat and administrative support for numerous committees. Cherie also assists with the coordination of Prevocational Accreditation services for the Northern Territory Accrediting Authority.
Cherie has recently taken on the role of Quality Assurance Officer and will now begin to assume the tasks previously undertaken by Maria.