Dr Anna Carswell from Goondiwindi, Queensland, is a recipient of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) 2021 Distinguished Service Award for her significant contribution to rural and remote medicine and general service to her community. 

At the end of 2008, Dr Carswell left Tasmania in search of a community delivering maternity care by General Practitioners (GPs) and has been serving the people of Goondiwindi ever since. 

In that time, she has provided GP obstetrics, emergency care and inpatient care at Goondiwindi Hospital and has become a practice principal at Goondiwindi Medical Centre. 

Dr Carswell also demonstrates strong leadership and initiative in the community across a range of issues, including allowing more women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus to birth locally, and advocating for equity of access for women seeking termination of pregnancy. 

In addition to her strong leadership, Dr Carswell is an outstanding teacher. She teaches and mentors junior medical staff, is an instructor for Advanced neoResus training, and regularly travels the region to provide ECT visits for registrars. On top of that, she provides exam preparation and support for ACRRM registrars. 

Regarded by her co-workers as “a bloody legend and an awesome colleague,” Dr Carswell also contributes to other areas of community life including involvement in a local disability not-for-profit, committee work with local sporting groups, and healthy eating and lifestyle education work with local school students. 

“In any given week I’ll be working across primary care, emergency department shifts, aged care, maternity care with collaborative team of midwives, medical education, practice management, and community health promotion. 

In receiving the Distinguished Service Award, Dr Carswell pays homage to her community. 

“I am honoured to be recognised by the College for my service to the community. Goondiwindi is an easy town to live in – I enjoy the variety of work and the community has offered me a rewarding career as a rural GP.” 

Dr Carswell was presented with her ACRRM Distinguished Service Award at the virtual Rural Medicine Award Conference on Friday 22 October.