Heywood Rural Health’s medical team continues to expand, with Dr Ali Anjum commencing work with the organisation earlier this month.
In the latter part of 2025 HRH had just one doctor at its clinic, but some strategic recruiting has now seen that number grow to four.
With more than 25 years of experience in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Brunei, Dr Ali brings a wealth of experience to Heywood along with a love of rural life.
“After doing my internship in medicine, surgery and psychiatry I served in Pakistan,” he said.
“I then went to Saudi Arabia as a general practitioner for six years.
“In 2009 the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic happened and I got a job offer in Brunei Darussalam, and I spent the last 17 years of my life working there.
“I was born in a rural area and have stayed in rural areas my whole life, I am a rural guy.
“Brunei is a country that is mostly villages so I am very comfortable in these surroundings.
“Because I have that rural background I have an understanding of the basic needs of rural people.”
So why Australia, and why Heywood?
“I have had a long-standing wish to come to Australia.
“I am very thankful that I have been given a chance to come and continue my training and complete my dream degree which is a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
“I am also very thankful to Heywood Rural Health and their CEO Leigh Parker.
“He selected me and offered me a job, which I happily accepted.”
Dr Ali’s wife Hafsa and sons Hamza, 19, and Hasan, 17, will arrive in Australia next month, with Hamza having just completed his Cambridge A Level exams in preparation for university study while Hasan will complete his secondary education locally.
“We plan to stay for a long duration, particularly with my two sons studying.
“The community has already given me such a warm welcome, so why not stay.
“I have enjoyed the very nice lamb, the milk and yoghurt which are so pure and I have loved the fresh fruit and vegetables.
“I have been enjoying some beautiful Sunday morning walks in Heywood along the Fitzroy River and around the town.
“The birds are beautiful and the weather is very nice, a bit foggy sometimes which I enjoyed.
“I am from Pakistan so I am not afraid of winters, Pakistan has all types of weather and I can tell you the winter in Heywood so far has been lovely.”
Dr Ali has been impressed with the level of care Heywood Rural Health can offer the community.
“It is not just a simple clinic with a GP service, it is much more.
“We have age health care, a dietitian, screening programs, vaccine programs, we can assist with antenatal care, help people quit smoking or assist with alcohol addiction.
“We are part of the community. This service is for our neighbours, it is designed for the betterment of the health of the community, and is easily accessible to the community.
“My advice to our community members is that it is better to come and get checked out here if you have any concerns, because if you ignore something you could then end up in emergency care.”
That message of preventative health is something Dr Ali encourages.
“Vaccines and screening are very important.
“We can organise screenings for things like breast cancer and colon cancer, we can organise cervical screening test kits that patients can do at home without any embarrassment.
“We are more than happy to organise these things.
“The other thing people can do is to be vaccinated.
“We have the flu vaccine which is readily available, which is important especially during the winter where people want to be protected from the flu. It does not mean that you won’t get the flu, but it does give much better protection.
“We also have the shingles vaccine. Shingles is a virus that can cause very painful sores on the skin, and we also have vaccines for pneumonia.
“My key message to the community is that prevention is better than cure.
“Prevention and screening are the key part of keeping you away from the hospital emergency department.
“All the staff here have the same motto: to help the community and protect them from dangerous diseases.
“It is always better to come and get checked out with your GP if you have any concerns, before things progress.
“We are part of the community, we can help.”

Acknowledgement and thanks to Denis Belden at the Portland Observer for the article and photo.

Photo: General Practioner, Dr Ali Anjum