GP recognised for lifelong commitment to community health
17 Dec 2025
She describes her journey as unexpected but incredibly fulfilling, driven by a desire to support communities that have long faced barriers to fair and accessible healthcare.
Dr Robertson currently works as a senior GP at Wuchopperen Health Service, an Aboriginal community controlled health organisation in Far North Queensland, on Yirrganydji Country. She also spends one day a week working in the emergency department in the Atherton Tablelands.
Earlier in her career, Dr Robertson worked in more remote communities and with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, experiences that shaped her long-term commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
After moving to Cairns, she was able to continue caring for families she had met years earlier in Cape York and the Torres Strait, something she describes as a special and rewarding part of her work.
Providing care in communities where health services have historically been limited has been both challenging and deeply satisfying, she says, particularly because of the strong relationships built over time.
In recognition of her contribution, Dr Robertson was awarded the 2025 RACGP Aunty Val Dahlstrom Award for Aboriginal Health Excellence at the GP25 awards ceremony in November.
She said the honour came as a surprise and described the recognition from her peers as humbling.
While proud of the award, Dr Robertson emphasised that many GPs are doing outstanding work in this space and deserve recognition for their commitment.
Looking ahead, she is optimistic about the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, particularly as more young doctors and registrars choose to work in this area.
She says the field attracts passionate clinicians who are willing to commit long-term and work closely with communities to deliver meaningful care.
Dr Robertson is also encouraged by the growing number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, students and registrars entering the workforce and helping strengthen the GP pipeline nationwide.
She believes strong advocacy remains essential, noting that health outcomes are closely tied to policy and political decisions.
Improving care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, she says, requires sustained commitment not only from healthcare professionals, but also from governments and society as a whole.
Despite the challenges, Dr Robertson remains hopeful and believes the future of community-led healthcare in Australia is bright.
Source: newsGP, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
