Meet a member – Dr Sarah Springer

Wiradjuri woman, rural generalist, model, and emerging leader in First Nations health Dr Sarah Springer is a powerful force for change.

Driven by a deep sense of justice, she’s reshaping systems through clinical insight, cultural advocacy and bold innovation.

“As Dr Uncle Louis Peachey would say, if you are not at the table, you're on the menu,” Dr Springer said.

Now, two decades into a successful healthcare career, it's almost hard to believe that medicine wasn’t originally on her radar. 

It wasn’t until she attended a careers market in Dubbo, nearly two hours west of her hometown of Mudgee, that she found the inspiration and resources that would set her on the path to where she is today. 

 “I had many health-based ideas – OT, dietetics, physio, and also journalism, but that didn't really come up as something that I believed I could actually achieve,” she said. 

“I then met two lovely Koori ladies at a careers market in Dubbo and they told me about a special entry program at the University of Newcastle for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. 

“They inspired me so much that I figured, what would be the harm in applying?”

At 17, she was successful in her application and began what would become a mighty journey into medicine.

“I think part of my success is being so young that I didn't realise there was a possibility of a no – I was blissfully ignorant about what I was embarking on, but I ate up every moment,” she said. 

Following graduation from medical school, Dr Springer interned and completed half of her residency in Sydney before returning to regional New South Wales to complete her general practice, obstetrics and emergency training. 

She then followed an opportunity to Port Hedland, Western Australia, where she worked at the Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation for two months before landing what she described as the ‘best job’ she’s ever had – Medical Officer for WA Health, a role she held for 14 years. 

Although she now resides in Mackay, Queensland, her passion for community means she is rarely just in one place.

“My life's that complicated – although I have just moved to Mackay with my husband, I have been working in Charleville for the last three and a half years and am now driving out there to continue doing so,” she said. 

“We have a toddler, so that limits our time out there, but I am very motivated to try and leave a legacy in terms of setting up programs that will change the way we approach workforce issues.”

Her legacy is already taking shape. 

Since resigning from her hospital role earlier this year, she has successfully channelled her clinical knowledge and experience into leadership and strategic innovation.

Notably, she has recently written the first ever First Nations Community Engagement Strategy for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Queensland and reviewed their employee cultural safety education packages.

“The strategy I have developed is now being considered by the RFDS Federation as a potential framework to be adopted nationally,” she said.

Dr Springer has also been working as Senior Medical Advisor for A Better Culture – a national project based on the results of Ahpra’s 2024 Medical Training Survey – and Senior Project Officer for the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC).

“In my role with QAIHC, we’re working on the first ever single-employee model for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO),” she said. 

“The goal is to facilitate a bespoke training program where GP Registrars can embed themselves in regional and remote communities and receive culturally immersive experiences.

“To make these kinds of positions work, we also need to have consistent supervisors, so I have also been able to advocate in that space.”

Although her day-to-day has significantly evolved since entering the consultation space, her focus on First Nations advocacy has never wavered. 

“It's been wonderful to finally have such a platform in my career, 21 years in, to be able to push back on systemic issues and aim for change,” she said. 

“It's not about me, it's about the community and making sure our future medical trainees can be themselves and practice in environments that respect, value and embrace their culture in a healthcare setting.”

While she is grateful to have a platform to dedicate her energy to something she knows is important, she’s also aware of the significant challenges that come with it. 

“In this line of work, you have to be very intent and specific with what you’re trying to do – you don't speak for everyone, but at the same time, you've got to speak for somebody,” she said. 

“Not every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctor has a desire to be in these spaces, because it's very difficult to deal with the lateral violence that comes with being a spokesperson and having challenging conversations, particularly with people that aren't ready to hear them.

“It's hard to have these conversations day after day, keep your cup full, keep yourself healthy and continue the fight. The concept is called the colonial load and it’s real.”

With a clear appreciation for the power of advocacy, Dr Springer has been a long-time AMA member, first joining when she began working in WA. 

“I really appreciate the advocacy for us doctors and to know that you've got an avenue to raise your concerns in a safe place,” she said. 

“I've always found that people at the AMA are can-do types of people.”