Brad took an unorthodox route to becoming a GP, a journey that exemplifies his commitment and passion to advocating for and supporting his people. A proud Aboriginal man and descendant of the Kamilaroi people of north-west New South Wales, he left school at age 15 to join the Royal Australian Navy and trained as a medic. He went on& to work with the NSW Ambulance Service and with other ambulance services, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Uluru.
Brad studied medicine at James Cook University(JCU). He was one of the first Aboriginal students at JCU and one of two to graduate in 2005. In 2008, Brad established his first solo practice as a general practice registrar in Eidsvold, where he worked for five years before moving to Bundaberg.
"Everyone in this room [the Council] has a story. Most of us are very rarely straight out of school. Often there are surrounding problems with finances or family illnesses - no one around here had a silver spoon-type journey to get where we are."
~ Associate Professor Brad Murphy, newsGP,19 February 2020
Beginning with his position as founding Chair of the NSCAboriginal Health, Brad’s advocacy within the RACGP led to its development into a national faculty in 2010. Brad joined the NSC-Aboriginal Health as a registrar, and the faculty was created while he was still a registrar. He received his Fellowship in 2011. Under Brad’s guidance a range of key resources, educational packages and position statements were developed, which established the RACGP as a key stakeholder in the national arena for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
What I love about Brad is his incredible vision. We had a unit and Brad said, ‘I think we should be a faculty’. He made that happen. Brad was absolutely the right person at the right time.
~ Professor Jenny Reath, newsGP, 19 February 2020
Brad remained Chair of the faculty until 2016, when he moved to the role of faculty Provost. He was succeeded as Chair by Professor Peter O’Mara, who remains the current Chair.
In 2016, Brad was awarded AIDA Indigenous Doctor Member of the Year in recognition of his significant contributions to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. His commitment has ensured that the RACGP has been a leader in advocating for improvements to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Brad Murphy’s Royal Flying Doctor Service ambulance in Mutijulu, with Uluru in the background, 1995. Photo by Brad Murphy
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Taken from: RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Tenth Anniversary book 2020