Casey Shorter awarded after Macksville Medical Centre transformation

Left-field thinking from a local legend turned one Mid-North-Coast GP clinic into a one-stop multidisciplinary health hub where clients can even get legal advice. See why it’s making waves.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Casey Shorter at the National Rural and Remote Health Awards 2024.

“Heartbreaking calls” from people scrambling for a range of healthcare services inspired a Mid-North Coast woman to transform an outdated, one-doctor clinic into a fully-fledged regional health hub.

Macksville Medical Centre is now a one-stop-shop, where along with top-tier healthcare, you can even get legal advice.

Practice manager Casey Shorter, a born and raised local, has been recognised as a Rising Star in the Rural/Remote Health Award at the 2024 National Rural and Remote Health Awards held on November 6 in Canberra.

“I can’t stand seeing something that’s broken and not do something to fix it,” Ms Shorter said.

National Rural and Remote Health Awards: Casey Shorter, Rural Health Commissioner Professor Jenny May AM and General Manager Practice and Health Services at The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Erica Vowles.

When Ms Shorter began work at the Macksville Medical Centre two years ago it was a semi-retired one-person practice.

“In our area people generally are in a lower socio-economic bracket and may have to drive an hour or two just to see a doctor,” she said.

“And if they get a referral often they don’t know where to get that next help or can’t access it.

“When I started probably 60 to 70 per cent of our incoming phone calls each day were from patients needing services that we didn’t have in our area.

“Those calls were heartbreaking when you couldn't help those people because of the lack of availability of services.

“The sad part is a lot of patients were simply going without treatment.”

Casey Shorter has been recognised for transforming Macksville Medical Centre into a regional health care hub.

Now Ms Shorter has put the clinic on the national stage after finding innovative solutions and collaborations – making the service a multidisciplinary health hub.

The service now recruits doctors internationally, offers emergency appointments, boasts an early childhood development and assessment—Young Minds Thrive, an occupational therapist, two psychologists, two doctors and a North Coast Legal Centre outreach clinic.

“The legal service is another support mechanism in place for people along their journey. because these things can turn into health issues if they’re stressed or not taking care of themselves properly,” Ms Shorter said.

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