Innisfail doctor Sabiena van Es has been selected to attend a prestigious national leadership program for rural doctors, hosted by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
Dr van Es, a Rural Generalist (RG) at Innisfail Hospital, is one of a small group of doctors chosen from across Australia to attend ACRRM’s Emerging Leaders Conference on Rottnest Island in October. The two-and-a-half-day event brings together emerging rural leaders to share experiences and strengthen their leadership skills in a rural health context.
Dr van Es says she looked forward to connecting with others who understand the challenges of delivering healthcare in remote and rural settings.
“One of the biggest challenges in rural medicine is sustainability—staying well, supported, and connected while working in relative isolation,” she says.
“I hope to take what I learn back to my hospital and team and help us continue growing into the best team we can be.”
Dr van Es is one of the RG obstetricians supporting Innisfail Hospital’s midwifery group practice model, which has been shown to improve outcomes for women and babies—particularly in First Nations communities.
She is also part of a local contraception clinic that operates weekly in Innisfail, providing access to Mirena insertions and contraceptive care that would otherwise require patients to travel over 100km or face long hospital waitlists.
“Timely access to reproductive healthcare is essential in rural communities,” she said. “It’s rewarding to be part of a service that makes it easier for people to get the care they need, close to home.”
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin said the College was proud to support rural doctors like Dr van Es who are passionate about improving care for their communities.
“Sabiena is a great example of the next generation of rural leaders—driven, community-focused, and already making an impact,” he said.
The Emerging Leaders Conference runs from 19–21 October in the lead-up to ACRRM’s annual Rural Medicine Australia conference in Perth.