St John of God Bunbury Hospital medical staff giving back with volunteer work in developing countries

Medical staff from St John of God Bunbury Hospital are gaining fresh experience and giving back with volunteer work in developing countries. Doctors and nurses from the hospital are donating their time to help improve health outcomes for those living in their host countries, with the goal to bring the lessons they learn back home to support South West patients. Urologist Sue Chapman travelled to Madagascar for more than 15 years to volunteer as a surgeon, and is set to return in 2025. “It’s a way to give back, and I feel like I get more out of it than I give,” she 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.” Dr Chapman does her volunteer work through Australian Doctors for Africa, a not-for-profit group aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of communities in Ethiopia, Madagascar, Somaliland and Comoros. The organisation helps train medical professionals, supports hospitals in the four countries, and provides medical treatment to residents. Theatre clinical nurse Lucy Harris recently returned to Bunbury from Madagascar, where she worked with an orthopaedic surgery team to relieve pain for people with severe fractures and help them return to work or school. SJOG Bunbury chief executive Jack Harding said the hospital and the St John of God Foundation provided support to volunteers and donated 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.” Alongside performing prostate operations, Dr Chapman provides urology training to host hospital staff so they can care for the equipment provided. Assistant in nursing Taryn Le Roux will soon head to Vietnam for a work placement, with plans to use the skills she gains in her work as a graduate nurse at the hospital.