Central Team

Dr Vinod Pushpalingam

Director of Rural Generalist Training

Dr Vinod Pushpalingam, who goes by Vin or Vinnie, was born in Malaysia and moved to Australia in 1980. Following his schooling, he pursued medicine and graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1997. After completing his internship and early years at Royal Perth Hospital, Vin spent four years at the now Perth Children’s Hospital before having a change of heart while completing a rural placement at an Aboriginal Medical Service in Kalgoorlie as a part of his general practice training. Vin went on to complete his advanced skill in Anaesthetics at Joondalup Health Campus in 2007 before continuing his rural generalist career in Broome, Derby, Kununurra and Karratha. After working across the state’s north, Vin moved to the South West region and settled in Busselton in 2009 where he worked across primary care, aged and palliative care, emergency medicine and anaesthetics. Vin passionately believes in the benefits of rural generalism, not only for the community, but also for personal job satisfaction.

Vin will continue to work clinically in the Busselton Hospital Emergency Department alongside his role as Director of Rural Generalist Training for the Rural Generalist Pathway WA.

Erin Furness

Senior Project Officer

Erin Furness obtained a Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Health Science) through The University of Western Australia then spent several years working in the Pilbara region of WA, primarily in the civil and mining industry. She joined Fiona Stanley Hospital during its commissioning and worked across both Fiona Stanley and Fremantle hospitals as a Medical Education Officer. Erin has extensive experience in program development and evaluation, event management, systems testing, accreditation and stakeholder engagement. Her additional qualifications include a Graduate Certificate in Business, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and a Diploma of Occupational Health and Safety. The Senior Project Officer role for the Rural Generalist Pathway WA Coordination Unit, which she commenced in September 2021, combines her knowledge of medical education and accreditation with her experience of working in remote WA. Erin is also a representative on the Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia's Accreditation and Standards Committee and is a Support Surveyor. Outside of work she enjoys running, watching AFL (she is a long-suffering Fremantle Dockers member), travelling and adding to her wine collection.

Dr Sally Cash

Medical Education Registrar

Dr Sally Cash graduated from the University of Notre Dame Fremantle with a Doctor of Medicine in 2019. Highlights of her medical degree included an 8-week rotation to Broome and a year with the Rural Clinical School of WA in Bunbury. Sally has a passion for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, completing her Diploma of RANZCOG in 2021 as part of her prevocational training, with the aim of meaningfully contributing to the health and wellbeing of rural and remote Australians. She has recently commenced her role as Medical Education Registrar with the WACHS Central Office and is excited to be a member of the Rural Generalist Pathway WA Coordination Unit.

Priya Krishna

Medical Education Officer

Priya Krishna has extensive experience in the tertiary education sector and has previously worked at Edith Cowan University and Curtin University. In her previous role she managed the admissions and student selection portfolio for the Medicine course offered at Curtin University and has done extensive work to promote the Medicine course to rural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She also has knowledge and experience in the field of international education including overseas qualifications assessment, English language testing and student visa requirements. She holds a degree in Computer Science and is skilled in data analysis, process improvement and event management. In her current role as a Medical Education Officer, she uses her technical and project management skills to support a pathway for doctors that will help meet the healthcare needs of rural and remote WA.

Hollie Robinson

Medical Education Support Officer

Hollie Robinson was born and raised in the Goldfields and has more than ten years of customer service experience. She has previously worked in the aviation industry as Domestic Cabin Crew and represented major international airlines. After Covid-19, Hollie found an interest in the healthcare industry and began her role as a medical receptionist in a radiology clinic. Hollie recently joined the Rural Generalist Pathway WA Coordination Unit as a Medical Education Support Officer and feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to support a pathway for aspiring rural generalists. When she is not working, Hollie enjoys outdoor activities with her husband and two sons and going on road trips.

Dr Graeme Maguire

Director Medical Education

Dr Graeme Maguire has had an extensive medical career which has led him to study and work across a variety of locations across Australia, and in many clinical and non-clinical roles.

He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience as a physician working across northern and central Australia, Executive Director for Clinical Research at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Medical Unit Director at Western Health in Melbourne, Associate Dean for Medicine at Curtin University and President of the Adult Medicine Division of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. 

It’s Graeme’s belief that a healthcare service is only as good as its people, and it’s those people we need to educate, train, support and retain. That’s why he’s so passionate about medical education.

Graeme is funded by the WA Country Health Service and provides advice to the Rural Generalist Pathway WA Coordination Unit.

Nicole Barbarich

Manager - Medical Education 

Nicole Barbarich has a background in project management and general management. Her career has taken her around the world, including managing events across six continents. She has been working for WA Health for nine years - with seven of those years at the WA Country Health Service. She enjoys making a difference and supporting those who provide care to our country communities.

Nicole is funded by the WA Country Health Service and provides advice to the Rural Generalist Pathway WA Coordination Unit.