Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett is delighted to congratulate Associate Professor Dr Brad Murphy as he opens the first privately owned and operated Aboriginal GP surgery (in the world). Situated on an acre of land nine kilometres from the heart of Bundaberg, Ashfield Country Practice will be the mainstream general practice for Indigenous and diabetes health in the Bundaberg region. Dr Murphy’s development application to Bundaberg Regional Council was approved today.
Associate Professor (Dr) Brad Murphy is a proud Kamilaroi man from Gunnedah in NSW, one of many affected by the Stolen Generation era and one of the two inaugural Aboriginal graduates of the medical school at James Cook University.
“Brad stands as a testament to the success of a medical school focussed on producing GPs with an interest in Rural and Remote, and Indigenous interests.” Mr Bennett said.
Dr Murphy is a founding Trustee of the Jimmy Little Foundation, and Founder and continuing Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. He is the Discipline Lead for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at Bond University, and a member of the Wide Bay Health and Hospital Board.
“Brad has a passion for embracing strategies aimed at Closing the Gap between mainstream Australian society and the Indigenous population”, Mr Bennett said. “It has been a privilege to provide support for Brad’s project, and I’m excited to see his dream come to reality”.