I studied at the University of Kwa- Zulu Natal which was based within a large 1000 bed tertiary hospital called King Edward the VIII Hospital and was strictly for non- white/Black people. The university was later named Nelson Mandela Medical School in acknowledgement of the role it played in anti- apartheid movements and eventual dismantling of apartheid. I was privileged and grateful to some people especially my mum who believed I had the potential to finish school and go to university and was very fortunate to have been accepted into medicine.  My wife Aneesa is a pharmacist and we are both the first people in the history of our families to go to university. I left in 1996 to experience working in other countries and health systems. It was never my intention to emigrate from my homeland, however that was the eventual outcome after working in Australia.  Although I am now an Australian, I still have strong bonds with South Africa where all my families live.

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I worked in general practices and at the Mater hospital after moving to Mackay and commenced work at ATSICHS Mackay in 2006.

Working at ATSICHS Mackay and in an Indigenous community is special to me as it has been my home away from home.   I feel my background has enabled me to fit into working in the community and was helped by the community and health worker staff who have been very supportive and welcoming to me.  My passion in medicine has been contributing to the growth and development of the health service and improving the health of the community.  I am an advocate for the ACCHS model of care and believe it is the ideal model of care to address the health of the community.

 

Outside of my work life, I enjoy being a family man, try cooking when I am allowed in the kitchen, try to make myself useful by doing a few handyman jobs around the house and I am still teaching myself to play guitar.