Meet a member – Dr Aaron Chambers

After completing his medical degree with honours at the University of Queensland, Dr Chambers served as a RAAF doctor, and since 2006, has worked in general practice. Now the owner of Growlife Medical, he has seen recognitions for his community centred efforts, consistently showing up for colleagues, patients and the medical industry.

Dr Chambers recognises the importance of healthcare throughout all stages of life and has nurtured his practice into one with a large focus on pregnancy and paediatrics.

“I think you going to have a much greater impact on the trajectory of someone's life if you're looking out for them from early life rather than later on,” Dr Chambers said.

“From a medical point of view, that's the point in time where people are prepared to make changes and set up themselves to get healthy habits for the future.

“It's the continuity over time that manages the complexities that general practice are experts in, that's what brings the value.”

Despite years of experience in general practice, Growlife Medical had profits swallowed by backdated payroll tax because of government change to GP tax requirements. In a powerful comeback, Dr Chambers became the face of AMA Queensland’s payroll tax campaign.

That campaign eventually led to an amnesty until mid-2025, two Public Rulings from the Queensland Revenue Office, and an agreement not to backdate audits for eligible practices.

“We need to keep on working, particularly with Queensland Health and Treasury, for them to understand the economic value that general practice brings to the state, and the savings it brings to the public's health system,” he said.

“I think the broader issue here is that general practice has been starved of funding, whilst the state hospital systems have been getting bigger and bigger, and that we need to redress that balance in a partnership fashion.

“General practice brings so much value and it's absolutely crazy for the state system to be further taxing general practice.”

For Dr Chambers, working together with like-minded clinicians and other AMA members on this continuous advocacy has brought extremely fulfilling and beneficial results.

“We've managed to change a ruling that was absolutely nonsensical for the health of Queenslanders, and that's extremely satisfying,” he said.

“I would say, it's really been a career highlight.

“The way that the AMA worked with the RACGP was a great example of how this can be done well, with both having a common vision of how we work with government to find the best outcome to make sure Queensland's health is safe.”

To top off a successful year, in late 2023 his practice was awarded the Patient-Centred Care PenCS award for their commitment to and efforts towards fostering Australia’s healthiest community.

Their efforts include an innovative initiative to target cervical screening through the employment of PenCS software. Through this data-driven initiative, the team use tailored strategies and clinic-wide education efforts to double cervical screening rates, contributing to their focus on preventative healthcare.

Acknowledging the power of collaboration, Dr Chambers values the variety of medical practitioners that operate across the four clinics and attributes this to their recent recognition and continued growth.

“There are about 30-something doctors who consult with Growlife. As well as a multidisciplinary team who support them,” he said.

“Having a pharmacist has really made a difference, and the diversity of thinking has really improved the way we think about our patient population.”

“Our pharmacist Lauren, and Jess, our dietician, have really pursued the time to think broadly about issues affecting not just individuals, but also the health of our families and communities.”

Further information regarding the latest payroll tax update is available on our website.

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