Thu,Feb,2020
It was a happy moment of chance that brought St George local Mary-Ann, her family and the Heart of Australia team together.
It was 2014, and members of the Heart of Australia team were in St George planning the logistics and scouting for accommodation ahead of the launch of HEART1. They visited the Jacaranda Country Motel, owned and managed by Mary-Ann Crowe.
Mary-Ann recalls it was a fortunate meeting for all concerned.
“The Heart of Australia staff member came into the motel looking for quotes for rooms. We got chatting, and he told me about the specialist trucks and the medical services Heart of Australia would be offering to St George and other parts of rural Queensland.
“We were over the moon to hear about this service because my daughter Cassandra had several complicated health issues. It felt like him walking into our motel was meant to be.”
When Mary-Ann’s daughter Cassandra was born, her life expectancy was short, but they had not factored in the strength, determination and resilience of Cassandra and her mother. But there were challenges. Cassandra had down syndrome, and a complicated heart condition, among other health issues that required significant specialist attention.
“St George has some great medical care. However, due to the severity of Cassandra’s condition, the nearest specialist medical attention for the services she needed was at the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane. For someone in poor health, the all-day travel it takes to get there is a hard trip to make. And you also have the cost of travel, overnight accommodation and the time away from work. It made it very hard to get her the right care that she deserved.”
“That all changed when Heart of Australia came to town.”
“Cassandra loved the truck. She loved the way Rolf and all the staff treated her so well and made her feel important. She loved feeling important. We loved the family-oriented values of Heart of Australia.
“Setting up the specialist medical clinic just a block down the road from our house gave us the opportunity to get her seen by specialists more than ever before. This ease of access became particularly vital as she got older, and her condition deteriorated.
“St George has some excellent GP’s; however, having the support of the specialists at HOA gave us peace of mind that we were doing everything possible. They helped us manage Cassandra’s deteriorating health condition, and they helped provide the GPs with the support they needed to be able to care for her.
“The last few years of Cassandra’s life were very hard, however, with help from Rolf and all the other doctors we managed to do as much as we could for as long as we could.
“We are so thankful they came when they did”.
“Cassandra had such a beautiful spirit. She absolutely loved life. Although she was almost deaf, she always managed to get her message through. She was even amazing at lip-reading… but only when she wanted to be.
Cassandra passed away in August 2018, 5 minutes past midnight on her mother Mary-Ann’s birthday.
“On Cassandra’s last day, she gathered all the grandkids around and gave them a very royal wave as she was taken away in the ambulance. She knew that was her last day, Cassandra asked us to pray for her, as she would soon become a butterfly in heaven.
Cassandra is one of the youngest patients that Heart of Australia has had the privilege to support.
“The services Heart of Australia provides are amazing, it’s just so important for country people to be able to stay in their towns if they want to. I know it was for Cassandra”.
Mary-Ann and her husband continue to run the Jacaranda Country Motel, and they will celebrate their 10th anniversary of managing the hotel next year.
“It’s been hard work, but we love it. It’s a tough time to own a rural motel. When rural Australia is in drought, it affects everyone. There are fewer workers, and companies send fewer salespeople and reps to town because people don’t have the money to buy what they’re selling. Fewer people coming to town means less demand for motel rooms.”
“The tourists can help, Grey nomads are great for the town, but they come with their own camper vans and don’t require accommodation. We’d love some more tourists to come and visit who also need a place to sleep. We’d take great care of them.”
“That’s my favourite part of owning our motel – the people. We love our regulars and the relationships we get to build. I love people, and I’m always interested to hear their stories.”
Mary-Ann is an active member of the St George & District Chamber of Commerce, and a passionate champion for buying goods and services from the local rural community.
“When you buy everything you can from local businesses, and hire local people, the money stays in the community for longer.”
“Being located in the beating heart of St George provides the opportunity to employ local people, buy local food, and keep as much money in the community as possible. Due to St George being a relatively small town, we strive to do as much as we can to support our local community”.
Heart of Australia is committed to supporting the communities we serve, both on and off the Heart Trucks. Part of the way we do that is by supporting local businesses whenever we come to town.
Members of the Heart of Australia team have been staying at The Jacaranda Country Motel when in St George since 2014.
Mon,Jan,2020
Heart of Australia and Anglo American have announced a new, three-year partnership that will see Heart of Australia’s specialist medical services extended to four more Central Queensland communities.
Commencing in 2020, the $1 million partnership will support Heart of Australia in delivering specialist services to the towns of Moura, Banana, Theodore and Middlemount for the first time ever. Specialist services currently being delivered by Heart of Australia include cardiology, gynaecology, neurology, gastroenterology, urology sleep studies, respiratory services, and endocrinology.
Heart of Australia Founder and cardiologist, Dr Rolf Gomes, welcomed the partnership and acknowledged Anglo American’s support for the vision of equitable access to healthcare for all Australians.
“This new partnership is a great example of like-minded organisations coming together to deliver tangible outcomes for our regional communities,” Dr Gomes said.
“We are very pleased to be entering this partnership with Anglo American, which supports our big-picture efforts while also providing direct services to the local communities of Moura, Banana, Theodore and Middlemount.
“Every time we expand our services to a new location, we have the potential to change and save lives for the community who live there. People who have often gone without specialist services for years, or who have needed to travel hundreds of kilometres at significant expense to access them.
“At Heart of Australia, our vision is to ensure all Australians have access to quality medical specialist services and we’re grateful to have the support of an organisation that understands how important access to good healthcare is.”
Chief Executive Officer of Anglo American’s Metallurgical Coal business, Tyler Mitchelson, said the company was proud to be supporting such a critical service.
“We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with Heart of Australia, who deliver life-saving specialist medical services to regional Queensland,” Mr Mitchelson said.
“We’re committed members of the communities where we operate, and we understand how critical it is for those in rural communities to have access to health services when and where they need them most.
“We have seen the benefits of Heart of Australia’s services first-hand in Moranbah, where two of our mines are located, and it was important to us to see these services made available to the rest of the communities where we operate – Moura, Banana, Theodore and Middlemount.
“Supporting thriving communities is a key pillar of our global Sustainable Mining Plan, and this partnership provides a meaningful way for us to better support the people who live and work in the Bowen Basin.”
Heart of Australia delivers quality, specialist medical services to Australians living in regional, rural and remote communities. Since Heart of Australia commenced operations in 2014, they have seen over 8,000 patients and potentially helped save over 350 lives.
Their innovative delivery approach involves taking specialist medical services to the people who need them on a fleet of custom-designed mobile medical clinics and they currently operate two full-size mobile medical clinics, HEART 1 and HEART 2 and a mini mobile clinic, HEART 3.
Anglo American is a leading global mining company, with significant investments within Australia and particularly in Queensland. The company operates five metallurgical coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, which produce and export highest quality hard coking coal for use in steel production for critical building and infrastructure around the world, as well as steel components for trucks and medical equipment.
Tue,Jan,2020
Here at Heart of Australia, our mission is to deliver quality specialist medical services to people living in rural and regional locations. We believe that all Australians have the right to access quality health care, regardless of where they live. After years of crippling droughts, bushfires and more, it has never been more important for us to support our fellow Australians living outside our city centres.
Since Heart of Australia began in 2014, we have seen over 8,000 patients and helped to save over 350 lives. This life-saving impact was made possible by the Heart of Australia team members, who are passionate about our mission, and making a difference in the world, in addition to being skilled and knowledgeable in their roles.
We are always on the lookout for great future team members, and so we are excited to announce two opportunities to join the Heart of Australia Team.
Driver
Yes, it’s a driver role – but not as you know it. This is not your regular driving gig. Heart of Australia’s innovative service delivery model means we bring the medical specialists and the state-of-the-art equipment they require to the communities where they are needed. We do this via mobile medical clinics (heart trucks) that drive on fixed routes throughout rural and regional Queensland.
Heart of Australia currently operates two full-scale, HEART 1 & HEART 2, and one mini HEART 3, mobile medical clinics, with another full-sized mobile clinic launching later in 2020. Getting these custom heavy trucks from town to town requires skilled, heavy truck drivers.
But the role doesn’t stop at driving. As a genuine member of the Operations Team, our Drivers complete a diverse range of tasks that:
- help to ensure the best possible experience for our patients when visiting the clinics
- supports our clinical and operations teams while in the field – which means, among other things, meal preparations for the team (lunches & dinners)
- ensures the safety of our patients and the team while in our clinics, and
- phelps contribute to a supportive professional and friendly, team-based work environment
The role is a casual, part-time position based on the Heart of Australia heart trucks. Due to the nature of our remote service delivery, a degree of flexibility is required.
The successful candidate will be a skilled, professional driver with appropriate license (MC) and at least 2 years driving experience of similarly sized vehicles. Ideally, the person will be passionate about supporting people in the bush and spending time in our beautiful outback towns. They will have good communication skills and feel comfortable speaking with doctors, staff and patients alike. They will be keen to work as part of the team that’s on the road, saving and changing lives.
If this sounds like you, or someone you know, please contact Veronica at [email protected] with your application and for more information about the role.
Heart of Australia values diversity, inclusion and flexibility, and we encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply.
Medical Aide
Heart of Australia’s Medical Aides are on the front lines of our clinical service delivery in rural and regional Queensland.
Our innovative service delivery model means we bring the medical specialists and the state-of-the-art equipment they require to the communities where they are needed. We do this via mobile medical clinics (heart trucks) that drive on a fixed route throughout the bush.
Our Medical Aides are often the first team members our patients will have face to face contact with as they arrive on our heart trucks, and they will often be the most frequent contact point that our patients have throughout their health journey with us. The role is dynamic and varied. It is as much operational, and patient focussed liaising as it is clinical.
As a member of the Operations Team, our Medical Aides complete a diverse range of tasks that:
- help to ensure the best possible experience for our patients, including setting them at ease, and providing support and information during times of stress and anxiety
- contributes to the delivery of our clinical services by administering tasks such as performing ECGs, respiratory function tests, CPAP trials and more.
- Supports the medical administration of the clinic to ensure responsible record-keeping, seamless patient administration and inventory management
- plays an active role in transport logistics, including the driving of support vehicles, and acting as a pilot vehicle driver.
- Ensures a safe, clean and welcoming clinic environment
- helps contribute to a supportive, professional and friendly, team-based work environment.
The role is a casual, part-time position based on the Heart of Australia heart trucks. Due to the nature of our remote service delivery, a degree of flexibility is required.
The successful candidate will have demonstrated general experience of medical/hospital practice, have excellent patient interaction skills, strong computer skills and enjoy working with sophisticated equipment. Ideally, the person will be passionate about supporting people in the bush and spending time in our beautiful outback, have previous medical administration experience and be keen to work as part of the team that’s on the road, saving and changing lives. A tertiary education in a science-based course or nursing will be highly regarded.
Read about Heart of Australia team member Lucas’ experience as a Medical Aide here.
If this sounds like you, or someone you know, please contact Veronica at [email protected] for more information about the role.
Heart of Australia values diversity, inclusion and flexibility, and we encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply.
Fri,Dec,2019
John Teunis captivated the audience at this year’s Gala Dinner with his frank and compelling message: “if it weren’t for Heart of Australia, I’d be dead.”
John was cleaning the gutters of his home in St George when he started to experience chest pain as he repeatedly climbed up and down the ladder.
“Initially I didn’t tell anyone. I just kept on going to get the job done. But the pain increased. I eventually told my wife, and she immediately took me to the hospital. After an initial test, the doctor turned to me and said ‘you’ve got a problem’.
John had undergone surgery to implant a heart stent 15 years earlier, but the challenges associated with travelling to Brisbane meant it had been many years since he’d had it checked.
John had recently been experiencing increasing tiredness and was now experiencing chest pain and breathlessness. Still, as he had not yet had a heart attack, he was not eligible for emergency transport to Brisbane for immediate treatment.
“It was a terrible predicament. We’d caught it in time before I had a heart attack, but because I hadn’t had a heart attack yet, I didn’t quality for urgent treatment. The doctors could send me to Brisbane once I’d broken down, but they couldn’t send me in straight away for the preventative maintenance that would prevent me from having the heart attack. They put me on a waitlist and said it would likely be months before I would get an initial appointment.
“I had a family history of fatal heart attacks. My father and my two brothers all died from heart attacks, so I was pretty confident that if I waited until I had a heart attack, it would kill me. But I had no choice.”
“Lucky for me, my GP knew the Heart of Australia truck was coming to town the following week. She wrote me a referral and the Heart Of Australia bookings team found me a priority appointment.”
“Dr Gomes had me step onto the treadmill for the cardio stress test. It lasted about two seconds before I needed to stop. I then had an ultrasound, right there on the truck, before Dr Gomes looked at me and said ‘we need to get you in quickly. If you wait for a heart attack, this could be all over red rover.”
“I let him know I’d been told it would be months before I made it to the top of the list. He made some calls and got me an initial appointment in Brisbane within two weeks.
“Some people can safely wait those months, but I couldn’t, and Dr Gomes knew it. I’ve come to believe that when you’re one guy in the outback with no cardiologist to advocate for you, you are just another job on a list of thousands. But when a top cardiologist calls and says that you have to go to the top of the queue – they have clout.
Securing John an appointment at the hospital in Brisbane was just one of the hurdles he would face. As people living in rural Queensland will tell you, there are many challenges involved in accessing specialist healthcare.
“I was too unwell to drive to Brisbane, so I needed to find someone to drive me. My wife had been unwell, but she was our best option. And I needed to find and book accommodation in Brisbane near the hospital.”
“There is some travel allowance available through Queensland Health, but there’s a whole lot of paperwork and you can’t access it until months after you’ve paid for it. And you still have to have the money upfront. Luckily I had a small amount of savings which I could use to do it, or else I wouldn’t have been able to go.”
Once in Brisbane, John’s hospital tests revealed he had 98% blockages in four major arteries.
“They said I probably should have been dead, and that stents wouldn’t fix it. I was in big trouble, and I’d need surgery. I could barely walk, I was struggling to breathe, and I’d spent the last two weeks in and out of the local hospital in St George, but because I hadn’t had a heart attack yet, I didn’t qualify for immediate surgery. They needed to send me home, with medication and put me on the waiting list. They said I was a Priority 1 patient, but it would be 3-4 months before I would have surgery. They told me I needed to stay close to the hospital until then, which didn’t make me feel very confident.”
Concerned about a potential heart attack, but with no other options available, John and his wife made the drive home to St George.
John returned to the Heart Truck, which visits St George every fortnight, to update Dr Gomes regarding his test results.
“Rolf looked at me and said, ‘You’re a walking timebomb.’ But he told me not to worry and started making more calls on my behalf. After just a few calls I was booked in to have the surgery two weeks later.”
“That next two weeks was a very scary time. I could hardly breathe, and I was in and out of the hospital. There were other complications, including a gallbladder infection that delayed the surgery another two weeks, but then it was done.
John’s surgery was a success, and he’s never felt better.
“I feel like a young bloke again. I didn’t know how seriously unwell I was until the pain was gone and I could walk and breathe again. And that’s all thanks to the heart truck. I would not have survived the waiting times. The bottom line is I would not be here without them.”
“And they didn’t just help me get the surgery sooner. Instead of needing to travel to Brisbane for all my checkups, I just needed to visit the heart truck. For every scheduled checkup that’s the difference between driving to Brisbane, arranging and paying for time off and accommodation, and just driving ten minutes into St George. It’s taken all the stress out of it.
John recovered well and was able to return to his work as a chaplain and pastoral care worker within twelve weeks. He immediately put his newfound knowledge and experience to work to help his community.
“Talking to the bushies is a major part of my pastoral care work. I travel out to check in with them on farms and properties, just to keep tabs on how they are doing and to lend a friendly ear. The first thing I did when I returned to work was to start talking to them about their health.”
“Being a bushie, people will often put their health concerns last. There’s a ‘suck it up princess’ mentality. A lot of the time, especially since the drought, people can’t afford to hire people to look after their properties, or to take time off from work to travel to the city. It’s a logistical nightmare they can’t afford so they just push through it and hope for the best.
John has now made it part of his mission to pay it forward and help the locals prioritise their health and access the specialist services they deserve.
“I find myself out on properties, standing in paddocks or sitting on tractors and talking to people about their health – and I can speak from personal experience. Before Heart of Australia came to town, it was virtually impossible to just down tools and take off to Brisbane for a week for a checkup. But now that the heart buses roll into town every couple of weeks, there’s no excuse not to get checked out.
Fri,Dec,2019
Less than two years after Toyota Australia first came on board as one of Heart of Australia’s proud corporate supporters, and having seen the impact that our service delivers for people living in the bush, Toyota Australia has more than doubled its support for Heart of Australia by providing us with four new Toyota Landcruisers and one Toyota HiAce commuter vehicle.
Heart of Australia will use these vehicles as part of its modest, but vitally important support vehicle fleet. Dr Gomes said the vehicles would play an essential role in the delivery of medical services to people in outback Australia.
“The Landcruisers will assist us in many ways. They will be our pilot vehicles for our full-sized mobile medical clinic trucks – HEART 1 and HEART 2. They drive ahead of our oversized trucks, transporting our doctors and crew as well as alerting our drivers to any upcoming hazards or wide loads approaching from the opposite direction. This helps to ensure our team, our staff,trucks and our medical equipment arrives safely at our next destination,” Dr Gomes said.
The support vehicles also help us to maximise the time the heart trucks are available to deliver medical services in the community. They allow us to perform logistical tasks and to transport our crews and supplies to and from the trucks at the start and end of rotations, removing the need to divert them to Brisbane for crew collections.
Dr Gomes said Toyota Australia’s timing was perfect.
“When Toyota came on board early last year, we were only operating our first heart truck, HEART 1. Since then we have brought on a second, larger clinic – HEART 2, a mini-clinic, HEART 3, and our next full-sized mobile clinic, HEART 4 will be launched in mid-2020.
“With each new full-sized clinic comes the need for more support vehicles. The decision of Toyota Australia to double their contribution from two to four fully maintained Landcruisers could not have come at a better time for the communities who will benefit from our services.
In addition to the Landcruisers, Toyota Australia has also contributed a brand new Toyota HiAce commuter vehicle that Heart of Australia will utilise as part of its brand new NextGen Medics program currently in development. The program will see Heart of Australia taking groups of medical students to the bush to witness the delivery of mobile specialist medical services in rural locations first hand. It will also allow them to engage with local health providers and experience the community spirit that living in the bush has to offer.
“Heart of Australia is committed to ensuring equitable access to health care for Australians living in rural and regional communities. That means more than delivering specialist services. It means supporting GPs with professional development opportunities, and it means helping to ensure a steady stream of future doctors who are eager to take up positions in the bush,” Dr Gomes said.
“Heart of Australia is very excited about the potential of our future NextGen Medics program, and our brand new Toyota HiAce bus that will deliver the students to and from the heart trucks, and around the outback towns.”
This significant boost in the Toyota partnership would not have been possible without the support of the individual Toyota dealerships, and the support of General Manager for the Northern Region, Jing Tadeo and Senior Manager of Regional Operations Jason Viney.
Jason Viney said the decision to more than double Toyota’s support, less than two years into the partnership was an easy one to make.
“We believe the work that Heart of Australia is carrying out in support of outback families is nothing short of inspirational. Since we first came on board the number of heart trucks has grown and the number of towns and communities they support has grown. Heart of Australia has now seen over 8,000 patients and saved over 350 lives since it started operations. That’s definitely something we want to support and be a part of.”
“Toyota Australia has received such strong support from families and businesses from rural and remote Queensland since we first started selling Toyota vehicles in Australia in 1963. By supporting Heart of Australia, we hope to give back to the communities that have chosen to drive Toyota vehicles for so long.”
