Dr Sue Masel
A leader in rural medicine - who also needs her own GP!
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. But what happens when she needs to see a doctor?
Passion for rural medicine
Growing up in Brisbane, Sue’s passion for rural medicine was the surprising outcome of an early career placement. “In my second year, they sent me to Goondiwindi… it was more difficult than I anticipated. It could have been so much better if I had the skills and training to do it properly. So, I trained to give me those skills, including a Diploma of Obstetrics,” Sue says.
Sue went on to complete a fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice Anaesthetics before returning to Goondiwindi for what was to be a six-month period.
For the last 25 years, Dr Sue has lived and worked in Goondiwindi. She has contributed more than 20 years to state and national rural health bodies as well as rural medical training.
Goondiwindi is where she and her husband, also a rural GP, have made their home, raised their family and are continuing to care for the community. For the last 25 years, Dr Sue has lived and worked in Goondiwindi. She has contributed more than 20 years to state and national rural health bodies as well as rural medical training.
Dr Sue is one of five partners who run the Goondiwindi Medical Centre. Three are women. For Dr Sue, becoming a leader has been the result of experience and natural progress.
Becoming a leader
“When you arrive ready to be a rural doctor, you get a few years into practice, and you find your feet. You get 10 years into practice, and you think, ‘Oh, I really enjoy this. I’m better and better understanding what it is I’m here to do’,” she said.
“Before you realise, you haven’t sought it, but people are looking to you as a leader.
“You come to realise that by dint of your attitude and experiences you are a role model for others. I suppose that, in the end, sparks an interest in taking a more active role.
Equality is key
Dr Sue has always believed in the importance of a level playing field. “I come from an upbringing and a relationship with my husband (Dr Matt Masel) where it has always been considered that it’s equal work, equal pay, equal responsibility, and equal ability to contribute. It’s never been gender based for me,” she said.
“I didn’t ever see myself as any different from a male studying medicine. And, I didn’t see why I should.” She said her experience as a woman in rural Australia had been largely positive.
“There are a lot of really strong women across the rural sector. Women who are farmers in their own right. Women who are executives of their own significant businesses,” she said.
“I’m sure there are pockets where women are still underrepresented but in rural communities, women are part of the DNA.
“Matt and I have had opportunities to talk with primary care doctors from around the world at WONCA (World Organisation of Family Doctors) conferences in Paris, Mexico, Phillipines and India over the years.
“You really come to appreciate the vast differences in how female doctors are treated, mentored and encouraged or not to practice their profession in other countries. “It’s through that experience you reflect on your own experience and realise it was something special.”
Sue believes there is strength in women building one another up. “In a rural town is there are deliberate attempts to bring together woman from all parts of the community. At a recent celebration of International Women’s Day, the panel included a senior lawyer, a senior accountant, me, a psychologist and a really well known and successful female farmer. You don’t think you’re mentoring, but by being involved in such initiatives, it is where ideas get shared and are grown".
Looking after her own health as a rural GP
“Rural practice is not without its challenges – one of those accessing health care for yourself. I respect the skills and experience of my colleagues. But, when it comes to my own health care, I need separation between being a doctor and a patient. So, I choose to travel to Brisbane for my own health care.
This is a 700km round trip.
Passionate about the health of our rural GPs, Sue is excited to be part of the team in Rural Doctors Foundation working to deliver GP services to rural health practitioners with our program, GPs4RuralDocs.
Offering essential independent high-quality continuation of primary healthcare by the same doctor, rural practitioners receive a combination of in-town face to face consultations with telehealth services in between visits. The service is delivered by our team of doctors who understand rural practice and are trained in doctor-to-doctor care.
Speaking with a GP is not only about your physical health – it is talking with someone who knows exactly what you are going through.
Sue understands what rural doctors face every day. She knows that having your own GP is not only your physical and mental health, it is about talking with a GP who under understands exactly what you are going through. It is that listening ear that can make all the difference.
In remote regions of Australia, GPs and health practitioners like Dr Sue Masel are travelling over 300km to receive healthcare, leaving their own communities without access to healthcare for up to a week, if not more.
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"It takes me away from my family and my patients And because of the need to replace me with a doctor trained in anaesthetics to be there for the community, it often means my own visit to see a GP is delayed."
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