She’s Sri Lankan, a competitive power lifter, a mum of two littlies, married to nurse Darren Bowkett and she’s the gratefully received new doctor in Evandale.
Dr Vasuki Annamalai last week re-opened the doors on the Evandale Medical Centre, which had closed unexpectedly in February, and she said she couldn’t be more excited.
“I lived in Evandale about 10 years ago and I’ve always loved this town,” she said.
“It’s been lovely re-discovering the village – I can’t believe how big the market has grown since I was here last!
“I like to be in a country environment, and while I live in Youngtown, I prefer not to work in the city.
In fact Dr Annamalai makes a point of working as remotely as possible at times, just last month spending two weeks working in the Red Centre at Ulara, and in the past she has spent nine months in Wee Wah, NSW, looking after the small community from the local hospital.
In Tasmania she has worked at clinics in Longford, Exeter, Legana, The Hub, George Town and also at Launceston General Hospital.
She likes to teach and do emergency department work, so she puts her hand up for the Launceston Medical Centre roster after hours.
The family spent two months travelling around the state in a campervan earlier in the year, while Dr Annamalai recovered from long covid and they waited for their new home to be ready to inhabit.
As a foreign doctor she has had to fight long and hard to meet stringent criteria and have her credentials verified in Australia, with the easiest way to retain a Visa being to attach herself to a general practice.
However, she’s now in a position where she can go out on her own in private practice and is looking forward to expanding the High St medical centre which currently includes senior receptionist Letitia Woodroff and a physiotherapist visiting one day a week, plus Darren as the nurse.
“If I can find them, I’d like to bring in another three or four GPs, and I’m sure that by offering the right pay, a great lifestyle and good support they will stay,” she said.
“I’ve submitted plans with the Northern Midlands Council to expand the building to accommodate more clinicians and allied health workers in the future.”
“There’s enough space for one GP to start now so the hunt has begun.”
The Evandale Practice fee for an average 15-minute visit is $98 with a $48.20 rebate from Medicare and then additional fees apply in 10-minute increments.
Bulk billing is available for those 75 years of ag or over with a pension card and for children 10 and under with a Healthcare card.
Appointments can be made on 6710 3000.