The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) will celebrate Western Australian GPs who have gone above and beyond in their work at an awards ceremony at the ANZAC Club in Perth on Friday 25 October.
Each year, the awards acknowledge GPs and general practices who make an outstanding contribution to the health and wellbeing of their communities. The winners for 2024 are below:
Western Australia General Practice of the Year is Murray Medical Centre in Mandurah
Western Australia GP of the Year is Dr Devaki Wallooppillai, who practices in Balcatta and North Perth
Western Australia GP in Training of the Year is Dr Jian Ong, who is currently based in Broome
Western Australia GP Supervisor of the Year is Dr Gregory Caddy, who practices in Kalamunda and Forrestfield.
Murray Medical Centre is well known for the positive impact it has had on the large regional city of Mandurah, south of Perth. Established more than 60 years ago, it's known for nurturing the next generation of GPs with excellent GP registrar training, as well as for being a supportive workplace for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
An early career GP, Dr Wallooppillai has a reputation for providing the highest quality care and having an excellent, empathetic manner with patients. An enthusiastic teacher of students on clinical placement, she has also authored clinical articles and has a postgraduate degree in public health, which informs her work.
Dr Ong carried out much of his RACGP training at Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service and is described as conscientious, highly capable and approachable, with compassionate and culturally sensitive clinical skills.
Recognised for his wealth of knowledge, Dr Caddy is known for nurturing generations of doctors towards a rewarding career in general practice.
RACGP Western Australia Chair Dr Ramya Raman congratulated this year's winners.
"The RACGP Awards are a great chance to pause for a moment and reflect on the incredibly impressive work of GPs and their teams in looking after the health of their patients," she said.
"This year's winners are all exceptional GPs who have done brilliant work – not just for their patients, but for their wider communities and colleagues.
"They are standout examples of why general practice is such a wonderful, challenging and rewarding career, and the impact that is possible in the role.
"We should be proud of our role at the RACGP in training nine in every 10 of Australia's GPs, including more rural GPs than anywhere else."
Dr Tapraya Ly, Murray Medical Centre practice principal, said the award was an "incredible honour".
"This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication our team puts in every day to support the Mandurah community," she said.
"We take pride in the care we bring to our patients and this award is a testament to that commitment. We are proud of the positive impact we've made, and we look forward to continuing to serve our community with the same passion and commitment for many years to come."
Dr Wallooppillai described her nomination as "quite overwhelming".
"General practice is an extremely demanding job. I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by a number of exceptional colleagues and team, from whom I have learned so much," she said.
"I stand in awe of all GPs, who help form the foundation and link together the healthcare system. It is so rewarding to see the positive impact that we can have on the lives of patients and be a small part of their journey."
Dr Ong said he was "deeply humbled and grateful" to receive the award.
"I very much owe it to my colleagues and mentors in Broome, who have been a constant source of encouragement and guidance for me during my GP training," he said.
"This award inspires me to continue the good fight advocating for quality primary care, especially for rural patients, and to keep learning so that I may give back to the community which has taught and provided me so much."
Born in the small Western Australian town of Three Springs, Dr Caddy said he was inspired to become a GP by learning from the work of rural doctors in his area.
"I teach because the word doctor comes from the Latin word for teacher, and I was well taught," he said.
"I believe teaching is a privilege and in some small way my teaching repays the debt I owe to those who taught me. It's an honour to receive this award and I thank the College and my registrars who are the future of General Practice."
The winners from Western Australia have been shortlisted for the National awards, which will be announced ahead of the RACGP GP24 conference in Perth on 20 November 2024.
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