Urologist Dr Sue Chapman has been travelling to Madagascar for more than 15 years as a volunteer surgeon with Australian Doctors for Africa and she plans to return in 2025 to provide life-changing surgery and health care that might otherwise be unavailable.

“It’s a way to give back and I feel like I get more out of it than I give,” Dr Chapman said.

“You’re helping people with no option to access health care like we have in Australia and using your skills to make a difference to people and their communities.

“It’s challenging and you have limited resources but you learn to work on the fly and develop your passion and skill set.”

Australian Doctors for Africa is a not-for-profit group aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities in Ethiopia, Madagascar, Somaliland and Comoros by training medical professionals, treating people and supporting hospitals.

Theatre Clinical Nurse Lucy Harris recently returned from Madagascar, where she worked with a team that uses their orthopaedic surgical skills to relieve pain for people with severe fractures and help them return to work or school. 

St John of God Bunbury Hospital Chief Executive Officer Jack Harding said the hospital and the St John of God Foundation provide support and donate medical supplies.

“We are fortunate that our caregivers take up these volunteer opportunities in developing countries to enhance health outcomes for people in need,” he said.

“Their volunteering supports the values of St John of God Health Care and they return to us with relevant practical skills that will benefit patients and the hospital.”

As well as performing prostate operations, Dr Chapman provides urology training to local people so they can look after the equipment provided.

Assistant in Nursing Taryn Le Roux was recently selected to join a group of nursing students for a work placement in Vietnam and plans to use the skills she gains from the experience in her work as a graduate nurse at the St John of God Bunbury Hospital.