A Logan doctor has been named Queensland’s GP of the year for her work providing aid to Pacific Islanders.
Beenleigh-based Dr Kuinileti Chang Wai was awarded the title last week at the 2023 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Awards.
Throughout her 20-year career, Dr Chang Wai has provided grass roots aid assistance to those in need across Queensland and Samoa.
She travelled to Samoa during the measles epidemic to help care and vaccinate patients, which included going door to door.
During the heigh of the covid pandemic she spent her weekends at churches and community groups in Darling Downs and Brisbane South, helping vaccinate their Samoan populations.
She also held FAQ sessions at local factories and churches to teach the importance of Covid vaccinations.
“It’s an awesome honour to win this award, but I’m also very humbled to receive it,” Dr Chang Wai said.
“I’ve got a lot of esteemed colleagues out there who are also doing a lot of hard work – I am very humbled and grateful.”
Beyond her work at the coalface of epidemics and pandemics, Dr Chang Wai set up a not-for-profit organisation to inspire the future generations of Pacific Islanders, called Oceania Pacific Health Association (OPHA).
OPHA is a group of health professionals with Pasifika descent who are committed to developing the Pacific health workforce in Australia, improving the health outcomes of local Pacific people both in and outside Australia.
Dr Chang Wai said the organisation worked with local schools to inspire young and aspirational Pacific Islander students.
“We’re very short in numbers – we need brown faces everywhere,” she said.
“For students to see that people from Pacific Islands can be in positions like a GP, or midwives and other allied health professions, it can actually help to foster their interest to pursue similar pathways.”
She said her “passion to look after vulnerable communities” stemmed from her childhood.
“I was born in Samoa and both my parents have medical conditions, so I always had an interest in health,” Dr Chang Wai said.
“It’s important for people to take ownership of their health, but to do it with guidance and help.
“And the health statistics of Pacific people in Australia is pretty bad.
“I feel that those of us in the profession who are of Pacific descent have to try and improve the health of our people – both in Australia and beyond.”
