Dr Gabrielle du Preez-Wilkinson
Overcoming adversity with kindness
Dr Gabrielle’s journey is a testament to resilience, kindness, and dedication, driven by her lifelong commitment to supporting the health and well-being of rural Australia.
A heart for rural communities
Despite growing up in Kalinga a suburb of Brisbane Dr Gabrielle du Preez-Wilkinson has her roots firmly in rural Queensland.
With family ties to a farm outside Toowoomba and a market garden in Redcliffe—a rural community in her youth—Gabrielle’s connection to the land and to rural communities is strong. This has played a significant role in shaping her identity.
Gabrielle wasn’t sure about becoming a doctor and admits to still being “overwhelmed by imposter syndrome.” While she found engineering intellectually appealing it was the opportunity to engage deeply with people that ultimately drew her to medicine. “Medicine would provide that opportunity more than engineering, so I stuck with med,” she reflects.
Dr Gabrielle’s career has been anything but conventional. Even as a medical student, she didn’t quite fit the mould, balancing academic life with her involvement in the Newman Catholic Society, basketball, and, memorably, nacho-eating competitions. She completed a youth work certificate and took a year off after her fourth year of study to work in youth outreach in Melbourne. Reflecting on her decision, she says, “I felt as a middle upper-class person living in comfortable surroundings, I had limited understanding of life for most patients in the public system.” She believed the experience of living and working in a new place, with minimal support, would be a valuable lesson in empathy and resilience.
The experience of living and working in a new place, with minimal support, is a valuable lesson in empathy and resilience.
The early days
After graduation, her journey as a doctor was not a smooth one, balancing an internship with the responsibilities of motherhood, only five weeks postpartum. Initially stationed at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Gabrielle felt isolated as an intern. Gabrielle found her stride at Redcliffe Hospital, where she discovered her love for rural practice. Her passion for rural medicine grew through regular shifts at Kilcoy Hospital and later at Mount Morgan, Gatton, and Millmerran where she connected with her rural patients and the communities.
As her career progressed Gabrielle worked in medical administration taking on roles that helped shape rural health services and supported her colleagues in rural hospitals.
A personal toll
The demands of her work took their toll, as Gabrielle gave birth to her second child, and separated from an abusive husband – all the while paving a path for herself full of compassion and dedication to healthcare.
After working three full and exhausting years as Deputy Medical Superintendent and Director of Clinical Training at Toowoomba Hospital, Gabrielle took some well-deserved time off to recover from burnout.
Upon her return to work, she joined the Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) and became the first Director of the newly formed Emergency Department. Gabrielle took great pride in helping transition TPCH into a consultant-led department, overseeing rosters and recruitment, and continuing to work shifts after hours. Reflecting on her tenure at TPCH, she reflects with pride on her challenging but rewarding journey of building an emergency service to better meet the needs of the community.
Fate struck again and Gabrielle settled back in Brisbane to care for her sick mother. This experience showed the need for better after hours healthcare. Gabrielle opened Caring Medical Centre in Kallangur where she continues to devote her time today.
Gabrielle’s personal health journey
Gabrielle’s personal health journey has also profoundly influenced her approach to medicine. From a young age she has dealt with recurrent migraines, mast cell and histamine overproduction issues, and eventually Multiple Sclerosis (MS). “The MS has been most ‘entertaining,’” she says, describing it with characteristic humour, despite leading to recent ICU stays. She also faces challenges with Diabetes, especially when using steroids to manage her MS. Reflecting on these experiences she emphasises the importance of listening to patients and their experiences, something she strives to do with each of her patients. “I try to listen to the patient’s perspective and validate with them that my understanding of what they’re saying is what they mean,” she says, adding that her own health struggles have taught her invaluable lessons about the patient experience.
Commitment to rural health
Dr Gabrielle’s commitment to rural health stems from a deep respect and admiration for rural communities. “Rural people are the backbone of our country and do all the hard yards” she says. In her view, rural medicine is “real medicine” where doctors provide holistic care and serve as part of the community, often caring for patients from birth to death. She finds rural practice to be the antithesis of what she sees as much of today’s “transactional” metropolitan GP work, which can often feel detached and impersonal.
Gabrielle’s passion for rural health was recognised by Rural Doctors Association Queensland (RDAQ) as a “Legend of the Bush in 2014. She also received a “New Fellow” achievement award by the Royal Australian College of Administrators in 2005.
Giving back in many ways
Today, Dr Gabrielle contributes to rural health through her involvement with the Rural Doctors Foundation. “Life had led me to a time when going rural was no longer possible,” she shares “and I really, really wanted to continue supporting my rural colleagues and contributing in some small way.”
Volunteering and donating to the Foundation allows her to remain connected to the people and places she’s so passionate about. Gabrielle shares her expertise in reviewing our health articles written by some of our medical students and junior doctors. She provides her feedback with compassion and works to inspire those drafting the articles with wise and considered advice.
And, when not being a doctor….
Outside of work, Dr Gabrielle’s life is filled with family, especially her granddaughter, whom she adores. She is actively involved in supporting women’s shelters and enjoys theatre, concerts, crime shows and rom-com movies. Her compassion and commitment to her community are evident in every part of her life, from her work as a doctor to her volunteer efforts.
Gabrielle’s journey is a testament to resilience, kindness, and dedication, driven by her lifelong commitment to supporting the health and well-being of rural Australia.
Other rural heroes like Gabrielle
Dr Katie Chang
Dr Katie Chang is a rural doctor based in Western Queensland. With her husband, Paul, they made the brave decision to leave the public health system and set up their own private practice in Charleville.
Dr Sue Masel
Dr Sue Masel has lived and worked in Goondiwindi in western Queensland for 25 years. She works as a rural GP and is incredibly connected to the town.
Dr Cam Hollows
In the world of emergency medical care, having the right equipment at the right time can be crucial. This is particularly so in rural areas.
Maryam Mansour is one of our volunteers with a passion for rural medicine. Maryam is in her final year of medicine and was inspired to write this story about Gabrielle.