Olga Korobko

About Olga

A dedicated professional with excellent organisational and communication skills, Olga thrives on delivering successful outcomes with a focus on people, and cultivating and nurturing strong, trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Throughout her career, Olga has worked in a variety of industries, including the for-purpose sector, where she gained diverse and extensive experience from project management and stakeholder engagement to strategy, fundraising. marketing and operations.

With the desire and heart to continue her career where she’s able to contribute towards making a difference in people’s lives, especially for those in rural and remote communities who are the backbone of Australia, she is excited to be part of Rural Doctors Foundation.

”I believe everyone deserves to have equal access to healthcare. I’m passionate about advocating for rural doctors, nurses and communities who do it tough, to ensure they have access to the healthcare they need.

I aspire to make a difference on a personal and professional level by advocating for those who do it tough and may otherwise go without a voice”.

- Olga Korobko

Maryam Mansour, one of our volunteers chats with Olga about her journey and what drives her to work for an organisation like Rural Doctors Foundation.

For Olga, life has always been about resilience, adaptation, and giving back. A first-generation Australian, she was born to parents who had left everything behind to build a new life in Australia after the Second World War. Her mother, originally from Latvia, arrived at just 12 years old with her family, while her father emigrated from Russia in his twenties. From a young age, Olga’s identity was moulded by her family’s experiences of displacement, hard work, survival and resilience.

Growing up, she often felt like she straddled two worlds, never quite belonging to one. “I didn’t really feel like I fit in as an Australian, and I didn’t feel like I fit in as Russian,” she confides. At home, she spoke Russian with her family, but at school, being bilingual set her apart. She was teased for her name, her food, and her cultural background—at a time when diversity wasn’t as celebrated as it is today. “Now, everyone loves European food and different cuisines, but back then, people would look at me like I was strange,” she recalls. Though painful, these experiences instilled in her a deep empathy for those who felt invisible or voiceless. “If I see someone being treated unfairly, I have to speak up.”

Her drive to protect and advocate for others became a defining characteristic, leading her on an unexpected but fulfilling career path.

Olga’s Career

Olga’s first job after finishing school was with the Commonwealth Bank, where she developed an eye for detail, processes, and customer service. “Processes and procedures are my sweet spots,” she laughs. While others might find that dull, for Olga, it became a foundation for every role she took on. She went on to work in finance, radio, and later, inbound travel and tourism.

It was during her time traveling through Europe, perched on a bench in Sicily, gazing at Mount Etna, that she had an epiphany: “I want to promote Australia. We have so much to offer, and I want people to see it.” She had never worked in tourism, but upon returning home, landed a job in inbound travel, arranging international conferences and incentive trips for visitors to Australia. She loved the creativity and attention to detail it required, and it fulfilled her love for travel—something she credits to an aunt who first kindled that interest in her.

Underneath the logistics and planning, she found joy in a more poignant mission—helping people realise their dreams. “The incentive attendees had to work hard for two or three years to qualify for a trip. For some, it was their lifelong dream to come to Australia, and I got to be part of making that happen.” The desire to help people do things that felt out of reach would later drive her work in the non-profit sector.

Olga’s biggest inspirations

Family has always been at the heart of Olga’s life. When her mother fell ill, she spent seven months caring for her full-time, putting her career on pause to be by her side. “She was strong, and she never gave up,” Olga recalls, inspired by the sacrifices her mother made. Her sister has also been a major influence.

Olga’s experience of watching loved ones fight through adversity, shaped her perspective on what truly matters.

Her greatest inspirations, however, come from the next generation—her nephews and their children, whom she adores. “They are the future,” she says proudly. One nephew, a former elite swimmer, became a swim coach and trained two swimmers who won medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, where he was part of the coaching team. Another nephew, a dedicated elite triathlete, achieved his dream of qualifying for the Kona Ironman, the most prestigious triathlon event in the world.

“Seeing what they’ve accomplished despite the odds and the personal challenges they’ve each faced, it motivates me every day,” Olga says.

In 2023, Olga joined Rural Doctors Foundation as Relationship Manager, drawn to its grassroots mission and the opportunity to contribute to something meaningful. “It’s a small foundation trying to achieve big things,” she says proudly.

For Olga, rural communities are the backbone of our country. “They give so much—from food production to tourism and exports—yet they are often forgotten.” Their resilience in the face of hardship amazes her. “They’re the unsung heroes of this country,” she says. “They deal with fire, floods, droughts—constant challenges—and yet they keep going, committed to their land, their families, and their communities.”

She has also been privy to the challenges of trust in healthcare. After her long-time GP retired, it took her five tries before she found a GP she felt comfortable with. “And that was in the city, where I had options. In rural areas, there is limited or, for many towns, no choice.

Her goal is to help expand the GPs4RuralDocs program, ensuring rural health practitioners have confidential and accessible healthcare. “They’re always on call—whether they’re at the supermarket, out for dinner, or at a school event, they are the doctor, the nurse, the pharmacist for the whole town.” She dreams of the Foundation receiving funding to roll out the program across all rural and remote communities, ensuring that healthcare workers—who spend their lives caring for others—also receive the care they deserve.

Building relationships, one story at a time

At the heart of Olga’s work, and her personality, is a love for relationships. “I love meeting people, hearing their journeys, and understanding what drives them,” she says. From her early days in customer service at the Commonwealth Bank to her work in non-profits, she has always gravitated towards connection. “At the bank, I got to know the regular customers—many of them elderly, just looking for a friendly face to talk to. That was the best part of the job.”

Now, as a Relationship Manager, she brings that same warmth and curiosity to her work. “We aren’t just chasing funding—we’re building genuine connections, fostering trust, and finding new ways to support rural communities.”

Her passion is strongest when she visits rural areas, seeing first-hand the dedication of healthcare workers. “Last year, I went to Charleville and Quilpie on one of our GPs4RuralDocs clinics, meeting doctors and nurses who sacrifice so much to be there.

Hearing their stories, understanding why they do what they do—it makes the work personal for me. Every person I meet reminds me why this matters.”

Finding joy in the little things

Outside of work, Olga’s time is spent around family, friends, theatre, and travel. She also loves escaping to the South Coast of NSW. “Just one weekend in Jervis Bay feels like a week away. The ocean, no matter the weather, always brings me peace.”

“My great-nieces and nephews are the loves of my life,” she beams. “When you have a tough day and a little one runs up to hug you—it reminds you what’s important.”

With a career built on resilience, advocacy, and a deep love for people, Olga is determined to leave a lasting impact. “We are all just one person away from making a difference,” she says. “And if I can play even a small part in that, then I know I’ve done something worthwhile.”