Dr Anne Saunders is a dedicated specialist General Practitioner and Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP). She is a strong advocate for the primary care workforce, with a clear understanding of the day-to-day realities faced by GPs.
Alongside her clinical work in both private general practice and emergency medicine, Dr Saunders is deeply committed to systemic advocacy that strengthens and supports the profession. During her four-year tenure as Co-Chair of the RACGP Victoria Alcohol and Other Drugs Committee, she played a key role in simplifying complex pathways for the treatment of opioid dependence.
Dr Saunders continues her commitment to frontline peer support as a convenor of the GPADD 26 (General Practice in Addiction) Conference, championing this year’s focus on the practical, “bread-and-butter” management of substance use within everyday consultations. Recognising that substance use management is a shared challenge across primary care, she combines active advocacy with the delivery of peer-to-peer education—equipping GPs with practical tools and collaborative frameworks to achieve safer patient outcomes.
In her clinical practice, Dr Saunders places strong emphasis on motivational interviewing as a critical skill for time-poor clinicians. She applies focused psychological strategies to overcome barriers, address resistance, and support meaningful behavioural change. Through this approach, she promotes the view that substance use disorders should be destigmatised and managed like any other complex chronic condition.