Community
13 February, 2025
New doctors welcomed
TERANG Medical Clinic has welcomed three new doctors in addition to the upskilling of a community-favourite nurse, in what is expected to provide a boost for patients.
From last week Dr Heather Han, Dr Brooke Healey and Dr Olivia Gubbins joined Terang Medical Clinic as the town’s newest doctors.
In addition to the new doctors, Melissa Callesen has earned endorsement as a nurse practitioner after completing a Master of Nursing last year.
Mrs Callesen said she can now provide a more advanced range of support for patients while working both independently and collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive patient care.
“Within my scope I can now diagnose, treat, prescribe and refer patients, so I’ve got a wider skill-set now than as a registered nurse which allows me to manage complete patient episodes of care,” she said.
“It allows me to offer more to my patients autonomously, which will be nice.
“I had to do post-graduate studies in primary health care before I could do my Masters of Nursing over two-and-a-half years, with over 5000 advanced practice hours in my specialty area of primary health care, to be able to apply to the nursing board for an endorsement.
“With my existing skill set there was so much I could manage independently, but now I can offer an additional service which will help to streamline patient care without needing to go to our doctors for little bits and pieces.
“It helps to take the pressure off them.”
Mrs Callesen said she felt an increase in nurse practitioners could assist rural communities in the event of doctor shortages.
“There’s not many nurse practitioners around so I think it will be an area which will expand in years to come, especially in rural areas where we can lack doctors at times.
“Nurse practitioners can fill that void.
“By no means are we doctors, but we can help to provide care when it’s needed.”
In addition to Mrs Callesen upskilling, the clinic’s three new doctors are quickly adapting to providing high quality care in a small-town setting.
Dr Han grew up in South Korea and Canada before moving to the United States of America to study.
She previously worked in genetics research for neurodegenerative diseases before taking an opportunity to live on a small island in the northern gulf, where she was inspired by a local GP to pursue further studies.
In 2017 she began her studies in medicine at the University of Melbourne, and began working at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“I’ve spent the past year in Port Fairy but decided I needed a change of scenery,” she said.
“I grew up rurally in Canada, so being exposed to a rural generalist was a big inspiration for me.
“I always thought I would go the general practice route, but I was stuck doing metropolitan hospital medicine.
“It was just a matter of making the jump, which is quite scary – it’s a big pivot for us.
“But my exposure in Canada, which was quite similar to here, is what inspired me to come out this way.”
Dr Healey grew up in New Zealand before relocating to Australia to study medicine at the University of Melbourne.
After graduation, she has previously worked in Geelong, Ballarat and Warrnambool.
In addition to her responsibilities at Terang Medical Clinic, Dr Healey will continue working alongside the Palliative Care team at South West Healthcare in Warrnambool.
“I’ve been in south west Victoria for over seven years now, after moving to Warrnambool for my medical school years,” she said.
“I just wanted to do something different, but I have stayed ever since, and thought I would try out Terang this year.
“So far so good out in Terang it’s been great so far – I’ve got no complaints.”
Dr Gubbins completed her medical degree at Flinders University in South Australia before making the move to the Mortlake area.
She completed her internship at South West Healthcare, where she continued to complete her residency as well as GP Fellowship training in 2021.
After taking maternity leave to raise her two young children, Dr Gubbins jumped at the opportunity to join Terang Medical Clinic.
“I’m really enjoying my time in Terang, especially just coming back from maternity leave,” Dr Gubbins said.
“It’s nice to be getting back in to the work side of things.
“Both my parents are doctors, and my grandfather was actually a doctor in Terang in the early 70s and 80s – Tom Griffiths.
“It’s been really good to be at Terang Medical Clinic – I’ve wanted to come here for years.”
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