As a GP obstetrician, I work part-time in a private practice in Busselton and provide obstetric services at the Busselton Health Campus, including caring for women during child-birth. I provide person-centred, holistic care and work closely with other practitioners who the woman choose to include in her support team. I have a particular interest in optimising mental and emotional wellbeing through healthy nutrition, lifestyle, stress management and nurturing relationships.
"I love meeting women and their partners before they conceive,
or soon after, and accompanying them on their journey
through pregnancy, child-birth and the postnatal period."
Further to this, I also care for adults and children, with interests in preventative health, mental health and chronic disease. I often receive referrals from other holistic practitioners and enjoy the rewards of observing people heal as they take control of their health with the support of a team of practitioners who are collaborating to achieve the patient’s goals.
I am also passionate about informing medical students and junior doctors about the training pathways and career opportunities in GP obstetrics in Western Australia. I established the WA GP Obstetrics Network in 2014, inspired to connect GP obstetricians working in rural and remote WA, to share useful information on professional development opportunities and provide support to one another. Many rural and remote GPOs work in isolation and therefore the need for collegial support is high. I have also been working with other stakeholders to support trainees in transitioning into their role as autonomous GP obstetricians, and provide mentoring and career advice on a regular basis. I also run regular workshops for medical students and junior doctors to provide accurate, up to date information on the training requirements and opportunities available to them.
As a medical educator, I work with medical students who are located in the South West of Western Australia for their penultimate year of medical school. I provide teaching and clinical supervision in general practice and obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as mentorship and support. In this role, I have developed an online mindfulness-training program, which I piloted with rural medical students in 2016 and 2017. I am now evaluating the program using a randomised control trial with both urban and rural medical students from two local universities. I have recently submitted the findings of my 2016 data analysis to a peer-reviewed journal, and hope to have this published shortly.
I am the GP representative on the South West Radiance Support Network. This Network was established in 2017 to connect parents to local services in the South West to support emotional well-being during early parenthood. Other members of this Network include child health nurses, women’s health services, counselling services, breastfeeding support groups, child care and parent support agencies and holistic health services. The Network hosted the Act Belong Commit Radiance Festival during Perinatal Mental Health Week in November 2017, which included The Big Pram Walk, to raise awareness about perinatal depression and anxiety, and ways to support mothers and their families when they are experiencing this. We had fantastic turnout and the energy was very positive on the day. Another example of my commitment to this cause was my involvement with organising the inaugural Perinatal Mental Health Workshop in Perth in October 2017, aimed at educating GPs, allied health professionals and community members about the prevalence of perinatal mental health issues and management strategies. It was a well-attended event, with affirmative feedback.
Currently, I am promoting a new online program I have developed with Sally Gray, ND, Happy Healthy Mums and Bubs. This program provides practical, evidence-based information to pregnant women and new mums, focussing on nutrition, mindfulness and other elements of self-care. This has been an exciting journey for both Sally and I, and we are delighted to be able to share this important knowledge with women all over the world.
Looking to the future, I am committed to working collaboratively with other holistic health practitioners to serve the community in which I live. In the near future, I would love to create an integrative clinic where we are all in one space. I also aspire to share my knowledge and insights with other health practitioners, students and the global community by attending conferences and other events in Australia and around the world.
"Each person is on their own unique life journey, and finding a team of health practitioners
who will support you to achieve your goals can be a transformational experience.
Whether they be patients, students or other practitioners, I love working with people to assist them in finding meaning and joy amongst the challenges that we all inevitably come across in life."
About 'The Compassionate Doctor'
Dr. Sarah Moore
I am an integrative GP Obstetrician, medical educator, researcher, wife, and mother of two young children. I love working together with women and their families to support them through their pregnancy, birth and beyond, providing person-centred holistic health care in Busselton, Western Australia. I also enjoy teaching medical students and general practice trainees. I am currently completing my Masters in Research, examining the impact of mindfulness training of the stress and self-compassion levels of participating medical students. I am very grateful to be married to a very supportive husband, and have two beautiful daughters who bring much joy to our lives.
I am inspired to support others to achieve their optimal health of body, mind and spirit, to live in harmony with nature, free from guilt and shame. This inspiration has come from numerous sources, including teachers, colleagues, students, friends and patients. I remember one particular “light bulb” moment when I was at a yoga retreat in 2014. One of the presenters was an Ayurvedic practitioner, Yolanda de Cuerves, and she was describing the principles of this ancient science. She explained that...
"We as humans are composed of the elements of nature – space, air, fire, water and earth –
and our different body types include these elements in varying proportions."
This led me to study the applications of clinical Ayurveda with my teacher Neerja Ahuja from the Ayurveda Awareness Centre, and learn about the intimate relationship between the health of our body-mind-spirit and the environment in which we live. Around the same time I discovered the discipline of Functional Medicine, and began practicing mindfulness meditation and yoga on a regular basis. As I learnt more, I realised that there were many other complementary modalities that I didn’t understand, which led me to create the Holistic Health Practitioner Network (HHPN), bringing together practitioners so that we could learn about our various practices and better support our patients and clients to achieve optimal health using a holistic approach. This Network has provided me with the ongoing inspiration to be curious and open to both the new and the ancient approaches to health and illness, and the more I discover, the more I realise how little I actually know! The HHPN has hosted the South West Wellness Expo in Busselton in 2016 and 2017, and will be running it again in 2018 as the South West Wellness Festival.
MBBS, FRACGP, FARGP, FACRRM, DRANZCOG
Qualifications - Post Grad.
2018 - 2021
2015 - 2016
2007 - 2012
2010 - 2011
2007 - 2009
2008
2006 - 2011
Masters by Research - University of Western Australia
Foundation Training in Clinical Ayurveda
ACRRM Fellowship
Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice
RACGP Fellowship
RANZCOG Diploma in Obstetrics - King Edward Memorial Hospital, WA
Masters of Public Health & Tropical Medicine - James Cook University, Townsville, Ext. student (incomplete)
Qualifications - Tertiary
1998 - 2003
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Hons) - Full-time University of Western Australia
Experience (recent)
Jan 2012 - present
Jan 2012 - present
Jul 2011 – Apr 2014
Apr 2010 - Apr 2011
Apr 2010 - Apr 2011
Jul – Sep 2009
Jan – Jul 2009
Lead Medical Coordinator
UWA Rural Clinical School, Busselton
GP Obstetrician
Fullerton Medical Group & Busselton Hospital, Busselton
Scope of practice: Non-Specialist Proceduralist - Obstetrics
Director Postgraduate Medical Education
WA Country Health Service, Perth
Medical Coordinator
UWA Rural Clinical School, Broome
General Practice Registrar - Advanced Rural Skills Placement
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council, Broome
Scope of practice: Non-Specialist Proceduralist - Obstetrics
GP Obstetrician
Naturaliste Medical Group & Busselton Hospital, Busselton
Scope of practice: Non-Specialist Proceduralist - Obstetrics
General Practice Registrar – Placement awaiting Fellowship
Naturaliste Medical Group & Busselton Hospital, Busselton
Scope of practice: Non-Specialist Proceduralist – Obstetrics
Professional Development (recent)
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Rural Obstetrics & Gynaecology Forum
Understanding Wellness Medicine in General Practice Seminar
Simplicity out of Complexity - Healthy Vitality Seminar
Metagenics Treating Pathogens Seminar
ACNEM Primary Modules
Metagenics Resolving Chronic Inflammation Seminar
Healthy Vitality mentoring program (6 months)
Finding Balance with Hormones - Healthy Vitality Seminar
Rural Health West Annual Conference
Hypnosis workshop for GPs
Radiance Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Symposium - presenter
Metagenics Maladies of Modernity: Fatigue, Stress & Thyroid Dysfunction Seminar
Metagenics Obesity Seminar
Perth Mindfulness Conference
Metagenics Female Hormones workshop
KEMH GP O&G update
RANZCOG Diplomates Day & OASIS workshop
RANZCOG Regional Scientific Meeting
Introduction to Functional Medicine online module
Metagenics Solving Allergy and Reactivity Seminar
CPR upskilling
Rural Health West Annual Conference
Metagenics Prescribing Effective Personalised Medicine Seminar
Gidget Foundation Perinatal Mental Health Workshop
RCSWA Leadership Program
Metagenics Mastering the Microbiome seminar
IN TIME Obstetrics Emergencies workshop
Rural Health West Annual Conference
Neonatal emergencies workshop
Rural Emergency Skills Training workshop
RANZCOG Annual Scientific Meeting and Dipolmates Days
Mindful Compassion Training workshop
Women in Leadership Symposium
Rural Health West Annual Conference
Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO)
Rural Health West Obstetric Ultrasound Workshop
Mental Health Emergency workshop
CPR upskilling workshop
Rural Heatlh West Annual Conference
GP Obstetrics Education Day “The Fetus at Risk”
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction 8 week program
Supervised Clinical Attachment in Obstetrics - 2 weeks, Swan Districts Hospital
Water immersion for labour and/or birth e-learning package
Cancer Council Women’s Health Day for GPs
MS-2-step online training package
Mastering Open Disclosure Workshop
K2 Medical Systems Intrapartum Cardiotocography training
Committee Involvement (current)
2017 - present
2016 - present
2015 - present
2014 - present
2013 - present
2012 - present
2011 - present
2012 - 2017
2011 - 2017
RCSWA Integrated Rural Training Pipeline working party
RCSWA Workforce Sub-Committee
Busselton Health Campus Medical Advisory Committee Chair
Holistic Health Practitioner Network Chair
PMCWA Executive Council
Busselton Health Campus Maternity Services Committee
Busselton Health Campus Community Midwifery Program Steering Committee
WACHS South West Obstetric Advisory Committee
Busselton Health Campus Medical Advisory Committee
WA GP Obstetrics Network Chair
GP Obstetrics Mentoring Program Working Group
RCSWA Postgraduate Working Party Chair
Rural Practice Pathway Steering Committee
WACHS Prevocational Education and Training Committee
Awards
2019
2016 & 2017
2013
2010
2003
2001
UWA Fay Gale Scholarship
Nominee – WA Regional Achievement and Community Awards
Horizon Power Leadership and Innovation Award
Teaching Award: Small Group Learning, Practicum Setting
WAGPET GP Registrar of the Year
UWA Helen Jane Lamard Prize in Surgery
UWA Guild Cruickshank Routley Memorial Award
Research Publications
Hofer A, Parker J, Atkinson, D, Moore S, Reeve C, Mak, D. Prevocational exposure to public health in the Kimberley: A pathway to rural, remote and public health practice. The Australian Journal of Rural Health 2014; 22, 75-79
Marley J, Moore S, Fitzclarence C, Warr K, Atkinson D. Peritoneal dialysis outcomes of Indigenous Australian patients of remote Kimberley origin. The Australian Journal of Rural Health 2014; 22, 101–108
Maley M, Wright H, Moore S J, Auret K. Pedagogy Rules: open mindset in adopting fit-for-purpose educational tools in teaching dispersed medical students. Accepted for publication by Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development 31/01/2015.
Cuesta-Briand B, Coleman M, Ledingham R, Moore S, Wright H, Oldham D, Playford D. Understanding the Factors Influencing Junior Doctors' Career Decision-Making to Address Rural Workforce Issues: Testing a Conceptual Framework. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17:2.
Cuesta-Briand B, Coleman M, Ledingham R, Moore S, Wright H, Oldham D, Playford D. Extending a Conceptual Framework for Junior Doctors' Career Decision Making and Rural Careers: Explorers versus Planners and Finding the "Right Fit". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17:4.
Kirke A, Atkinson D, Moore S, Sterry K, Singleton S, Roxburgh C, Parrish K, Porter C, Marley J. Diabetes screening in pregnancy failing women in rural Western Australia: An audit of oral glucose tolerance test completion rates. The Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2019; 27:1, 64-69.
Moore S, Barbour R, Ngo H, Sinclair C, Chambers R, Auret K, Hassed C, Playford D. Determining the feasibility and effectiveness of brief online mindfulness training for rural medical students: a pilot study. BMC Medical Education 2020; 20:104, 1-12.
Research Grants
Moore S, Barbour R, Ngo H, Sinclair C, Chambers R, Hassed C, Auret K, Kirke A, Playford D. The RCSWA Mindfulness Program. $5000 funded in October 2016 by Val Lishman Health Research Foundation.
Johnson CE, Cook A, Bellgard M, Mitchell G, Auret K, Ritson D, Sinclair C, Moore S, Gunning D. Quality in end-of-life care: current realities and future goals for regional communities. $62 086 funded in 2016 by Val Lishman Health Research Foundation over 3 years.
Johnson CE, Cook A, Bellgard M, Mitchell G, Auret K, Ritson D, Sinclair C, Moore S, Gunning D. Quality in end-of-life care: current realities and future goals for regional communities. $19 511 funded in 2016 by WA Palliative Care Network.
Marley J, Kirke A, Sterry K, Moore S, Adams R, Roxburgh C, Porter C, Mears M, Atkinson D, Singleton S, Griffiths E, Parrish K, Jamieson E, Edmond K, Martin J. Developing algorithms to improve predicting the development of and screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in rural communities. $136, 047 funded in March 2016 by Lishman Health Foundation.
Conference Paper Presentations
Moore S, Barbour R, Ngo H, Sinclair C, Chambers R, Hassed C, Auret K, Playford D. The RCSWA Mindfulness Project. Perth Mindfulness Conference. September 2018. Perth, WA.
Moore S. Mindful Compassion. ACRA conference. August 2017. Perth, WA.
Moore S. Mindful Compassion. AAAPH conference. October 2016. Perth, WA.
Moore S. WA Rural Practice Pathway: An Update. GPET Conference. September 2013. Perth, WA
Moore S. WA Rural Practice Pathway: An Update. National Prevocational Medical Education Forum. November 2012. Perth, WA.
Moore S. WA Rural Practice Pathway: An Update. 6th Annual Rural Health Conference. September 2012. Busselton, WA.
Moore S, Atkinson D, Marley J. Peritoneal dialysis outcomes of Indigenous Australian patients of remote Kimberley origin. 5th Annual Rural Health Conference. September 2011. Albany, WA.
Moore S, Atkinson D, Skinner L. Where are they now? Career outcomes after 8 years of undergraduate and post graduate Aboriginal medical education in the Kimberley. Rural Medicine Australia Conference. October 2010. Hobart, Tasmania.
Moore S, Atkinson D, Skinner L. Where are they now? Career outcomes after 8 years of undergraduate and post graduate Aboriginal medical education in the Kimberley. GPET Annual Convention. September 2010. Alice Springs, Northern Territory.
Posters
Moore S, Barbour R, Ngo H, Sinclair C, Chambers R, Hassed C, Auret K, Playford D. The RCSWA Mindfulness Project. 3rd International Congress in Whole Person Care. October 2019. Montreal, Canada.
Moore S, Barbour R, Ngo H, Sinclair C, Chambers R, Auret K, Hassed C, Playford D. The RCSWA Mindfulness Project. RANZCOG Regional Scientific Meeting. April 2018. Bunker Bay, WA.
Moore S, Porter K, Badham S. Augmenting the WA GP obstetric workforce: are we progressing? National RANZCOG Annual Scientific Meeting. October 2016. Perth, WA.