Mrs Margaret Johnson
Significant Contribution to Rural and Remote Communities

Award type: Showcase

Growing up and living in country NSW, it was always assumed that services, especially health, were less than what you could get in the bigger centres and that always worried me. I started my career in health as a nurse and found I had a bit of a thing for advocacy.

So when I transitioned into the public service, the union movement was where I found like minds. Finally, studying at Charles Sturt in Bathurst I joined the APS as a student and have been part of the committee process ever since.

This allowed me to continue to be an advocate for rural psychology and also assist in the committee process from branch level to national college level. But always, you could never take the girl out of the country.

As a psychologist I helped develop a network of satellite offices and services throughout western and far western NSW. From Broken Hill to Mudgee, Lightning Ridge to Lithgow, we brought much-needed psychological services to the bush. During this time I was privileged to learn from and mentor like minded rural psychologists and other allied health professionals. Always, we never thought of what we did as ‘special’. We were just providing our services to the rural and remote communities that needed them.

Being involved in the Rural and Remote Interest Group brought me into contact with passionate, like-minded psychologists who were getting on with providing services, with never a thought of accolade or thanks. They just got on with it. When we sought membership to the National Rural Health Alliance, the scope of influence increased exponentially. Being asked to give our opinions on the big issues facing rural health nationwide has been daunting, but a huge privilege.

Now I am coming to the last era of my career, and travelling to far-flung rural communities has come to an end. But now I get to mentor and support other like-minded psychologists on their journeys navigating the nuanced and always challenging world of rural, remote and very remote practice.

What a privilege. So, thank you for this award. I was just doing my bit for the profession. And loving every minute of it.