Dr Sue Velovski

Dr Sue Velovski is a specialist general surgeon working in the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Sue grew up in Newcastle and trained at the University of Newcastle obtaining her Bachelor of Science and Medicine degrees in 1995. She was encouraged by her mentors to consider a career in rural/regional surgery. Her experience with training as a resident at Lismore Base, a surgical registrar stint at Bendigo Base and a Fellow at Royal Darwin Hospital, as well as work in South Africa and East Timor as a trainee and consultant surgeon, has lead Sue to continue a career in regional Australia. Sue understands the inequities in health care amongst rural and regional Australia and, in her role, continues to advocate for ‘safe appropriate surgery locally and globally’ for all patients irrespective of race, financial status or geographical locale.

Sue has been actively involved in surgery and surgical education at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, both in Australia, and overseas in South Africa, PNG and Timor Leste. Sue has been an advocate for trainees and students over many years. Her early lobbying experience was obtained at a statewide level as President of NSW RMO’s Association during a busy a very political period in 1996–97. Sue has also been involved, at the junior registrar level, in junior medical officer education for many years.

More recently Sue has been active in teaching the importance of non-technical skills to surgical trainees via various RACS courses. Sue has also had the privilege of learning from, and training with, Human Factors specialists/experts including commercial and RAAF pilots – the ADEPT team. Sue was lucky enough to attend ADEPT’s inaugural course about non-technical skills, and how these skills can improve but can also harm healthcare decision-making. She was elected to the Human Factors Advisory group by Clinical Excellence Commission/ NSW Health in 2018

Prior and during the pandemic, Dr Sue was asked to engage with both the Macedonian Community via SBS Radio and the local radio station “ Paradise  FM” to provide timely advice about health, and physical and mental well being. Although providing medical advice in Macedonian can be difficult , Dr Sue has taken it on a a personal challenge to re- learn her parents native language.

Sue is the elected Specialist member of NSW Rural Doctors Association, and was elected to the Natural Disaster Emergency Group Response Group in 2022.

Sue was awarded Rural Doctor of the Year in 2022 for her ongoing support of her community, cancer patients ,training and teaching of students ,GPs and hospital staff

In 2023, Sue has been awarded a NSW Rural Scholarship for Women in Leadership and has also been awarded the NSW Womens Contributions Awards for her contribution in supporting womens health by Resilience Together Association NSW

Outside of surgery, Sue likes to keep fit and recognises the benefits of swimming, sailing, snorkelling, paddleboarding. walking and running. She enjoys time with family and friends, and the pursuit of the beautiful natural scenery via photgraphy in the Northern Rivers and around the world