RACGP - GPs in Training Council

Dr Rebecca Loveridge

Chair

Dr Rebecca Loveridge works as a GP in youth custodial health after completing her RACGP training through RVTS in an Aboriginal Medical service in regional Victoria. Prior to this, she completed her pre-vocational training time at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne. Her clinical interests include mental, sexual and preventative health, and healthcare equity for our First Nations, rural and LGBTQI+ peoples.

As Chair, Rebecca sits on the RACGP Board of Directors and enjoys bringing the GPs in training perspective to this role. She has prior experience advocating for junior doctors as Registrar Liaison Officer at RVTS and HMO Society President at the Austin. As a medical student, she held roles with the Australian Medical Students' Association and the University of Melbourne Medical Students' Society.

Dr Madeleine Wilkie

Deputy Chair and Queensland representative

Madeleine obtained her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Queensland, and currently works clinically in inner-city Brisbane with an interest in women's health and chronic disease management.

She is passionate about advocacy for junior doctors and doctors in training, and has had representative involvement in advocacy, wellbeing and education committees since graduating. She hopes to improve working environments, education delivery and connection with peers, for all current and future GPs in training. She is also committed to promotion of, and recruitment for GP training programs, as well as facilitating smooth transition for hospital registrars and prevocational applicants into their next stages of training.

Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her two energetic dogs, catching up with friends, and trying all the new restaurants she can find.

Dr Samantha Hodges

Deputy Chair and Western Australia representative

Dr Samantha Hodges is a GPT2 Registrar practicing in Canning Vale, Perth. Samantha enjoys the diversity of General Practice, and has particular interests in chronic disease management, neurology and haematology. Beyond her clinical work, Samantha also enjoys contributing to medical education and research.

Samantha has experience advocating for her peers at local and national levels, through previous representative roles held as a medical student. She is passionate about accessible and high-yield medical education for GP Trainees, as well as providing Registrars opportunities to network and debrief the wins and challenges of working in general practice.

Samantha is passionate about improving the training experience and wellbeing of all GP Registrars. She is proud to represent her peers and strives to adequately advocate for the diverse needs of RACGP Trainees in WA at all stages of their training.

Dr Allyce Counsell

Academic registrar representative

Dr Allyce Counsell is a new GP Fellow working in Sydney NSW, with special interests in women's health, paediatrics and preventive care. Allyce completed her GP Academic Post in 2023 and achieved her fellowship with the RACGP in early 2024. Allyce also works as a Lecturer with the University of Sydney where she teaches medical students within the Sydney Medical Program and is also currently undertaking a PhD in cervical cancer prevention in general practice.

Allyce has valued her academic experience during general practice training and believes a career in general practice is both rewarding and diverse. She is passionate about promoting academic general practice and shining a light on primary care research, promoting general practice as a career path to medical students and ensuring the GP training program is supportive for current and future GP trainees.

Dr Bijan Darabi

Australian Defence Force representative

Dr Bijan Darabi is a first-year Fellow of the RACGP and a Medical Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, currently posted to RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.

Having joined the ADF in 2017 during his medical studies, Bijan brings a seasoned perspective to the challenges faced by Defence doctors navigating GP training within a military context. He was actively involved in a partnership between Nepean Hospital, the Air Force, and the RACGP to facilitate accreditation for and subsequent placement in a new extended skills term.

As the ADF representative on the GPiT Council, Bijan is committed to advocating for Defence registrars, enhancing their training experience, and supporting their wellbeing. He looks forward to contributing to the Council’s mission of advancing general practice and empowering the next generation of GPs.

Outside of medicine, Bijan enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and supporting his local community.

Dr Cecilia Xiao

Victoria representative

Dr Cecilia Xiao is a New Fellow working in Southwest Victoria. Prior to commencing GP training, she has worked interstate in Hobart, Sydney, and Melbourne, and possesses international experience in Singapore and the UK. Called to GP training during COVID pandemic, she embraced the challenges and demands faced by today’s GP trainees. She has a strong commitment to the delivery of safe and equitable healthcare to patients and is enthusiastic about teaching and research.

As the Victorian representative in the RACGP GPiT faculty, she aims to attract more medical students and junior doctors into the profession and create a conducive and supportive environment for current and future GP trainees.

Dr Clair Bannerman

Australian Capital Territory representative

Dr Clair Bannerman is currently a JMO with Canberra Health Services, completing her paediatrics term as part of PGY2. She enrolled in the RACGP training program (completing her hospital year), with the goal of commencing GPT1 in 2026.

Clair has a diverse professional background including classroom teaching, governance, policy development, medical education and training, and stakeholder engagement. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently sits on the board of the AMA ACT, as well as AMA ACT doctors in training subcommittee.

Outside of work, Clair has three tween/teenagers, and likes running, skiing and watching B-grade action movies with her kids.

Dr Elif Stoneman

Tasmania representative

Dr Elif Stoneman is a GPT2 Registrar starting at Glebe Hill Family Practice in S2.2024. Throughout her training, Elif has been involved in advocacy for rural health, medical students, and junior doctors. Her recent role as the Doctor in Training Representative for ASMOF Tasmania included participating in the latest EBA negotiations. Currently studying a Master of Public Health, Elif is passionate about preventative healthcare and the role of GPs in community health.

Elif values work-life balance and supports colleagues in pursuing interests outside of medicine. She enjoys traveling, scuba diving, running music festivals, food and reading. She loves hearing about others' interests and encourages conversations about balancing professional and personal lives.

Elif looks forward to supporting registrars through their training and guiding medical students and junior doctors on their journey to becoming GPs.

Ms Helen Mayer

Prevocational Doctor representative

Helen Mayer is currently a third-year medical student at Flinders University in South Australia. She was the Flinders University student representative of the RACGP SA Council from 2022 to 2024. Prior to commencing her medical studies, she was a pharmacist and was on the SA Branch Committee of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. She was also involved in the Pharmacy Regulatory Authority of South Australia and an examiner for the annual Pharmacy Board Registration Exams.

Helen has a great interest in General Practice and would like to help improve the attraction of this specialty to other medical students and junior doctors. She is passionate about medicine and education, and she also has a keen interest in politics and public health.

Dr Ishani Kaluthotage

South Australia representative

Dr Ishani Kaluthotage is a rural GP based in South Australia. She trained in rural and remote settings around Australia including Far North Queensland and East Arnhem lands. She currently works for Royal Flying Doctors Service, Refugee Health Service and rural Emergency Departments. She is passionate about global health and has extensive volunteer experience in health promotion and sustainable development projects overseas.

In 2023 she was joint winner of the RACGP’s Rural Registrar of the Year Award. Her passion lies in health policy, minimising health inequalities in low resourced environments and isolated communities. She is motivated to inspire more junior doctors to work in rural settings and make GP training more flexible for future registrars.

Dr John Nguyen

New South Wales representative

Dr John Nguyen is a GP registrar working in the South Western Sydney region of NSW who has recently completed his exams at the end of 2024 and is awaiting Fellowship. He was an Academic Post registrar in 2023 and continues as an Adjunct Associate Lecturer with the South Western Sydney Clinical School of UNSW. In addition to his clinical work, he is a HealthPathways clinical editor. He completed his pre-vocational training at Liverpool Hospital and was the HETI JMO representative over that time.

John is passionate about improving working conditions in the GP landscape and attracting more medical students and doctors to this speciality.

Outside of work he enjoys jogging, travelling, and dancing.

Dr Joshua Preece

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative

Dr Joshua Preece is a Wiradjuri and Torres Strait Islander man living on Gadigal land in Sydney; a GPT1 Registrar; and a Global Atlantic Fellow after completing a 2023 Atlantic Fellowship for Social Equity. He has been a member of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) since 2015, and a member of GPRA’s Indigenous General Practice Trainee Network since commencing General Practice training.

Joshua’s previous advocacy experience includes serving as the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Officer on the National Union of Students; the Australian Representative on the OECD’s Youth Advisory Board; Postgraduate Fellow of the University of Sydney Senate; Board Secretary of the Australian Medical Students’ Association; and undertook his Practical Legal Training by volunteering part-time for the Refugee Advice & Casework Service (RACS).

Joshua holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Sydney; a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland; and a Master of Social Change Leadership from the University of Melbourne.

Dr Khatijah Khalilur Rahman

Fellowship Support Program and Practice Experience Program representative

Dr Khatijah Khalilur Rahman is a GP registrar proudly serving the Chelsea Heights community in Victoria. Khatijah is a strong advocate for doctors in training, with experience in rural and Aboriginal health.

Her passion for medical education drives her advocacy for improving training outcomes and experience for junior doctors and enhancing the support systems available for their continued well-being and success. Through her clinical work, Khatijah is committed to addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring access to quality care for underserved communities.

Dr Maddison Hall

Northern Territory representative

Dr Maddison Hall is currently a GPT3 Registrar working in Darwin after completing her first year of GP training in Yirrkala, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Maddison is passionate about rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and has extensive experience working in remote primary care and hospital settings throughout the Kimberley and Northern Territory.

Maddison is committed to increasing and maintaining a consistent remote health workforce and a large part of this is ensuring registrars training in rural area’s receive adequate support, educational opportunities and appropriate incentives.

Through her role on the council Maddison hopes to not only promote remote GP training but increase the rural health workforce. There is more than just medicine in rural and remote areas there is stories, culture, history and beauty and she hopes to encourage other GPs to forge relationships that keep them in or returning to areas in Australia that have reduced access to consistent high quality health care.

She is also the current NT RACGP Registrar Liaison Officer and hopes to offer a personal approach to supporting her fellow GP Registrars.

Maddison enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring remote landscapes, photography and travel. She is passionate about health and wellbeing and strives to create balance and encourages other GP registrars and new fellows to prioritise their friends, families and hobbies outside of Medicine.

Dr Sarah Woodford

Rural representative

Dr Sarah Woodford is a rural generalist registrar based in the New England/Northwest region of New South Wales, having returned to where she grew up to complete her rural generalist training. Sarah has a longstanding passion for and dedication to rural health and a desire to advocate in this space not only to optimise the rural experience of GP registrars, but ultimately to improve healthcare for rural Australians.

Sarah has held a number of roles within rural health advocacy spaces, including three years involved with the Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) Rural Health Committee, and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) Residents and Registrars Group.

When Sarah is not working, she spends her time serving within her local church community, spending time with her husband and her Jack Russell Benji (preferably with coffee in hand), and going for runs.

Dr Yash Charak

Remote Vocational Training Scheme representative

Dr Yashwant Charak is a dedicated GP registrar who takes great pride in serving the Gamilaraay Aboriginal community in Walgett, New South Wales. With a strong commitment to rural health, he enjoys practicing all aspects of General Practice in such settings. In addition to his role in primary care, Yash also contributes to the local hospital's Emergency Department, where he focuses on improving outcomes for critically unwell patients from regional areas.

Driven by his passion for rural healthcare, Yash advocates for initiatives that encourage more doctors to work in regional areas. He understands the importance of addressing healthcare disparities and is committed to transforming the landscape to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in underserved communities. Through his work, he aims to inspire others to recognise the vital role they can play in improving health outcomes for people in rural Australia.