When doctors choose to stay in Maryborough, Victoria, Dr Adele Van Der Merwe often has something to do with it.
The Rural Generalist Anaesthetist and Director of Anaesthetics and Perioperative Medicine at Maryborough District Health Service has been named the inaugural Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) National Supervisor of the Year.
Presented for the first time in 2026, the award recognises outstanding commitment to supporting registrars and building a strong and sustainable rural medical workforce.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says Dr Van Der Merwe exemplifies the impact great supervisors have on doctors and the communities they serve.
“Behind every confident Rural Generalist is a supervisor who has invested their time, knowledge, and encouragement to help them succeed,” Dr Martin says.
“Adele creates opportunities for registrars to challenge themselves and develop new skills, while making sure they always feel supported.
“The impact of her mentorship can already be seen across Maryborough, where many of the doctors she has supported have chosen to stay and care for the local community.”
Known for her warmth, positivity, and strong advocacy for rural training, Dr Van Der Merwe supervises registrars across hospital and general practice settings.
She encourages registrars to develop procedural skills and creates a safe environment where they can ask questions, learn from challenges, and grow in confidence.
Dr Van Der Merwe says supervising Rural Generalists is one of the most rewarding aspects of her career.
“One of the greatest privileges of being a Rural Generalist is being able to pass on what others have taught me,” she says.
“Every registrar brings fresh perspectives, and seeing them grow into confident doctors who will go on to care for rural communities is incredibly rewarding.
“To be recognised by ACRRM in this way is a real honour. I see this award as recognition of the importance of supervision and of the many doctors across Australia who quietly invest in the next generation every day.”
This is the first year ACRRM has presented a national award dedicated to recognising the contribution supervisors make to Rural Generalist training.
Dr Van Der Merwe was selected from a group of state winners and presented with the inaugural national award at the Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) conference in Adelaide last night.