New GP a mental health expert

Dr Aaron Hawkins joins the team at the Deloraine & Westbury Medical Centre this month. Photo supplied

NATIONAL RURAL Registrar of the Year award winner Dr Aaron Hawkins brings his mental health expertise to Deloraine Medical Centre this month.

He joins the centre as a GP but isn’t new to Deloraine, having lived there for a year.

As he gained knowledge of the mental health area he worked in Burnie and Devonport for the North-West Mental Health Service; previously he worked in Smithton.

Aaron’s award was made by the Rural Doctors Association of Australia and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.

Dr Peter Arvier of the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania said Aaron brings significant training and expertise to Deloraine.

‘He’s been recognised as the most outstanding doctor in training in Australia,’ he said.

‘That he and Nicole Anderson have chosen to work in Deloraine is a feather in the cap of that medical centre.

‘I strongly suspect they have chosen to go there because of the practice’s good reputation and collegial atmosphere.

‘Deloraine ticks a lot of those boxes and doctors who work there are voting with their feet.’