Meet a member – Dr John Buckley

Just 16 when he graduated high school, he had no idea what he wanted to do and no history of medicine in the family. Despite the odds, he has now spent over 40 years in the medical industry and is just as enthusiastic about it today as when he started medical school.

His story begins with a deep desire to help people and an opportunity to study medicine under a scholarship.  

The scholarship program required him to relocate and work in rural Queensland and he did not hesitate.

Quickly adapting to his new environment in Central Queensland, he ultimately spent 10 years in and around the regions, gathering experiences that would shape him into the doctor he is today.

“I was able to do my first two years in Rockhampton Hospital, which was a big benefit clinically,” he said.

“I then became the medical superintendent at the Mount Morgan Hospital, a role that strengthened my desire for general practice and rural medicine.

“After a few years I came back to Rockhampton where I later saw a job advertised in what was then called the Family Medicine Program.”

The rest is history.

“Suddenly here I was 10 years later with this teaching job available, with no qualifications needed, where you learn about it as you go. So, I applied, went down for an interview and they offered me the job,” he said.

“I moved back to Brisbane and was accepted readily by half a dozen amazing GP educators within the training program.”

Despite returning to the city, his connection to rural healthcare never dwindled.

“Because I was the only one with rural and regional experience, I immediately became responsible for being a coordinator of rural training, a role I wanted to hang on to forever,” he said.

While still practising as a GP, he continued various GP educator roles for nearly 30 years, relying on his rural experience to guide his training.

Most notably, in 1994, he became one of the inaugural Rural Coordinator medical educators in the then RACGP Training Program.

“Now that it's been a while, so many people I supported during their training are doing amazing things. People who I saw start their careers are now heads of committees or groups within the college or have built amazing practices,” he said.

“The best part is watching people learn, bringing my own unique style to it and making learning interesting and fun.”

Now residing on the serene Coochiemudlo Island, before retiring from his GP work, he regularly commuted hours to suburban Albany Creek to continue caring for the patients he had loyally served for over two decades.

His work now varies week to week. Between supporting the RACGP’s fellowship exam and conducting their Pre-Employment Structured Interviews, he also regularly travels to rural Queensland towns to provide the GPs4RuralDocs service run by the Rural Doctors Foundation.

“Through the program I travel to towns like St George, Goondiwindi and Stanthorpe every three to four months to provide healthcare to doctors who would normally have to leave their communities for days at a time to receive a similar level of care,” he said.

“Some people only might need one appointment a year, but for others, I can organise telehealth appointments for follow ups or to go through results even when I am not in town.

“Trying to educate and support rural and regional doctors has been in my heart since I started. That's why I immediately thought this job with the foundation, where I get to go out and support rural practitioners, was a wonderful opportunity.”

In 2024, Dr Buckley was recognised as a finalist in the Stronger Medicare Awards for his long-time dedication to patient-centred care, particularly in rural and regional areas, through his work as a GP and in providing training to future generations of doctors.

His long-term commitment to AMA Queensland and other associations alike is another example of his passion and dedication to the profession.

“It was a very natural thing to join the AMA immediately. As a very junior doctor, I saw AMA Queensland providing good services and being an advocate, and I never really thought about leaving,” he said.

“I was never given any doubt about continuing my membership.”

It was an honour to recognise Dr Buckley’s 40 years of membership at our 2024 Membership Milestone Breakfast.