I must apologise, as I hadn't thought about or therefore updated this site in a long time. This is principally the result of my taking an extended period away from practice as a Dr, the result of the effects of the immediate registration actions of the QLD Health Ombudsman combined with what seemed to be a near impossibility to find work due to the nature of their conditions and in particular the administrative burden upon any employer's reception team. Despite my disputing strenuously the substantive bulk of allegations put to me, it seemed that for 1-2 years I would be stuck in a hopeless situation of continuing to want to both serve patients and to use the skill set that it has taken me years to develop, yet would be unable to do so whilst their processes slowly unfolded. Not surprisingly, this really affected me and my health, plus I was already trying to deal with some very significant personal issues. As a result, my medical registration lapsed, which is my responsibility, and the combined effect of this all really was quite unbearable. Thanks to some fantastic support, over the months that followed I was able to gain a deeper insight into the situation, and to start pulling myself together, working on me and my personal issues, on my own health, and re-prioritising the things in my life. I was able to give proper space and time to consider my future, and to reflect deeply on recent years, my past practice as a Dr, my communication style, and especially how despite the best of intentions, things had become so extraordinarily difficult for me to manage. Having spent years encouraging patients to prioritise themselves, the things of real value in their life, to not be afraid to put themselves first, and to be compassionate and kind to themselves- to be grounded and to realise no matter what that they needn't be ashamed or fearful of admitting that they have real worth, the worth that I could see in them, that I worked so hard to support them with when times were tough- despite that, I found that I needed to take a big leaf from my own book. I also came to realise that the very style that I had cultivated as a Dr to ease communication with my patients was itself also part of the problem, and certainly helped to put me in the position that I found myself in with the Ombudsman. If I wanted to return to practice then I would need to continue to work on these areas, and I am very grateful for the support that I have received in this regard, and continue to receive.

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My time away from practice continues. At no point since the Ombudsman restricted my practice through their immediate action and conditions, and then continuing from the lapsing of my registration 30/09/2024 (though this is regarded as 01/11/2024) have I told a patient that I was still working as a doctor, have I prescribed for them, referred them for any test or to see another doctor. I have neither told potential future employers or other contacts (on LinkedIn or by any means), nor written e-mails or letters suggesting, that I was currently registered as a doctor / able to work as a GP or DVA LMO. Indeed, when I have made enquiries as recently as a month ago I have been very clear that I do not yet hold AHPRA registration, and I have not formally applied for any job in the last year at all.  The last time that I updated this site was when the Ombudsman noted that I hadn't removed references to my last job, in Fairfield, and I promptly amended this site, and wasn't asked to remove any further content. I also frankly was unable to afford to maintain my LinkedIn profile, and only just accessed it yesterday 12/08/2025 when it was brought to my attention that I was giving the impression that there and through this personal website that I was still working as a Dr / GP / DVA LMO. In fact, I hadn't updated my LinkedIn since working in Fairfield, and I apologise to anyone reading this who had tried to connect with me or had sent me a message on LinkedIn, as I hadn't even thought that it was still running without the premiums, and I didn't check it for messages- I had only taken it up to assist with finding work, but that stopped when my registration lapsed. 

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I am acutely aware that updating either this site or LinkedIn were pretty much the last things on my mind, not least because of the depth of issues which I have been dealing with, but also because I genuinely had no idea that anyone would look at them and think that I was attempting to give an impression that I was still practising. This is important as it is far from legal to do so for anyone- whether qualified or not- and hardly serves to help someone like me who is only now re-applying for registration as a Dr, having used the extensive time off as a sabbatical to work on me, my personal life, to consider my future, and to allow space for reflection and the gaining of insight, allowing me to work on the areas that I clearly needed to and still need to for my own good and for any potential career, ongoing. My LinkedIn profile was clearly stagnant and not used since late last year, and this site had noted that I would update it only when I was returning to work as a doctor/when I had found a job. This is not yet that time, and to avoid confusion I have removed the title which I am able to use (Dr), in fact, due to my qualifications, though my friends with a PhD (or DPhil from Oxford) would argue that only they are the freal doctors (of Philosophy)!!  

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I know that I am currently acting as a private citizen, and in that spirit I felt that the above was important to put down. To have a brief yarn to make a few things clearer, whilst trying not to upset the Ombudsman, or 'run a campaign', and hopefully to reduce the enquiries about am I back working yet. I still get former patients and contacts of patients asking me all the time (due to me being verbally recommended as being considered as formerly  compassionate and skilled in that work) if I am working currently or able to help with DVA claims or paperwork, or if I can still be seen or do scripts,  and I know that former patients and people still being recommended to me are also being given this website's details- the answer is the SAME here as I have given you all, including as recently as this last week on 4 occasions- I am NOT CURRENTLY REGISTERED AS A DOCTOR, and I am UNABLE TO ASSIST unless things change including with all DVA paperwork (a matter of medical board registration AND then the medical board and ?OHO's conditions or other actions), and no, I will NOT be returning to solo practice or working from home, including via telephone or video consulting from home. 

 

Any concern that I have been looking to garner work in any capacity as a registered medical professional, whether dealing with individuals as potential patients or as potential employers, is not the case, and is why I have instead been spending my time on trying to address concerns, improve my health and personal life, stressors, get on top of the requirements for re-registering and the continuing professional development associated requirements. I have for some time been aware that I am unable to assist the DVA with any Veterans' paperwork at all, and this is why I have of course been advising Veterans as recently as 6 days ago when I get 'cold-contacted' due to word of mouth that I can't currently assist them, and may well not be able to assist them in the future either.

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I am aware that many rumours have been doing the rounds.  No, I didn't just leave Australia.  No, I didn't choose to just 'dump' patients who had been my patients for years. No, I didn't move to Melbourne. Yes, it has felt terribly hard thinking that patients who had meant so much to me would think that I felt so little due regard that I would up and go without a word. After in some cases me being their doctor for 15 years and across many practices. I'm truly sorry for the upheavel, and that I can't assist you even now, nearly a year after I last worked as a GP and DVA LMO. To reiterate, I am not currently registered as a medical professional (doctor) in QLD or Australia or anywhere, and I have not been saying otherwise, nor meaning to suggest it.

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I wish you all the very best, Steve