Casey Shorter from the Macksville Medical Centre wins Rising Star in Rural/Remote Health

Casey Shorter, our talented Practice Manager from the Macksville Medical Centre, has transformed the practice into a thriving multidisciplinary medical hub, despite significant workforce shortages. Her hard work over the past two years has been recognised with winning the Rising Star in Rural/Remote Health this week. The awards aim to pay tribute to the exceptional professionals and organisations who have significantly contributed to improving healthcare in rural and remote regions across Australia.

“I can’t stand seeing something that’s broken and not do something about fixing it,” Casey says, referring to the dwindling health services and a community needing more accessible medical and allied health services.

During her time as Practice Manager the Macksville Medical Centre has been transformed from a semi-retired, one-person practice into a medical hub with two GPs, two psychologists, an audiologist and a children’s occupational therapist.

Her commitment to improving health accessibility for the Nambucca Valley has earned her the title of Rising Star in Rural/Remote Health at the National Rural and Remote Health Awards. She was also a finalist in the Excellence in Rural/Remote Health Administration category, and a finalists in the Medicare Stronger Awards which were recently held.

“I’ve been in health and aged care administration for over ten years in the local area and it’s just incredible how far we have to reach just to get those basic services as opposed to our metropolitan counterparts or the more built-up regional areas,” Casey said.

Thanks to Casey’s passion for rural healthcare, the community can access quality medical, allied health and support services including free legal advisory services, skin cancer services and urgent care appointments, where previously these services were either limited or required significant amounts of travel.

Casey has signed the Macksville Medical Centre up to North Coast Health Connect, a pilot program designed to provide 24/7 urgent health care advice and services to the community and reduce stress on emergency departments. She has also welcomed student nurses to the practice by making Macksville Medical Centre a student nurse placement supervising practice.

Casey says, “Although I am proud of the work I’ve done, there’s lots more to be done.”

Casey involves the practice in health awareness activities and looks to address the unique challenges faced in the local community. As an example, Macksville Medical Centre hosts Mid North Coast Legal Centre by way of a fortnightly outreach service. The free service provides confidential legal advice and services to vulnerable members of the community, supporting and empowering the elderly, those with low incomes, or who are at risk. The Macksville Medical Centre is also host to Young Minds Thrive, delivering early child health and development assessments and early learning support services. She’s currently promoting the MHERV free men’s health checks Rotary is bringing to Nambucca and Macksville this week.

Casey’s motivation is seeing how patients benefit from the work she is doing.

“I love to enable people to better themselves or to be able to achieve things and to be able to have a part in that is pretty significant,” she said.