Tanya Forster • Case Studies • Dubbo Region
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Driven to make a difference, shaping regional healthcare in Dubbo.

Watch full interview: Helping to shape regional healthcare

Living, Working, and Thriving in Dubbo: Tanya Forster’s Story

For Tanya Forster, Dubbo isn’t just where she grew up—it’s the place that shaped her passion for community and inspired her vision for better healthcare access. Surrounded by vibrant people and the challenges of regional living, Tanya developed a deep appreciation for the region’s strengths and a determination to make a difference.

After completing her university studies, Tanya returned to Dubbo with a clear goal: not just to come home, but to help drive real change in regional healthcare. Today, as CEO of Macquarie Health Collective, she’s delivering on that vision.

“I think being able to slowly strengthen the variety of service offerings has been really amazing for the community,” Tanya said.

She established Macquarie Health Collective in 2017, and by 2019 had expanded to include Macquarie Family Practice—creating a unique medical and allied health hub designed to provide wrap-around care for families in the region.

Her leadership has transformed Macquarie Health Collective into one of the region’s most comprehensive health hubs. What began as a vision for collaborative care now brings together GPs, psychologists, dietitians, speech pathologists, teachers, and visiting specialists including an Endocrinologist, Cardiologist, Adult Neurologist, Sleep and Respiratory Physician, General Surgeon, and Paediatric Neurologist. Some of these services otherwise did not exist in the region, forcing families to make expensive and time consuming trips to metropolitan regions, just to access the service.

Tanya also saw schools struggling to meet the needs of students who required extra support. In response, she did something unconventional: she hired teachers to work alongside psychologists. “It’s not something generally done, but it’s something we needed - and the outcomes for kids have been incredible.”

Her commitment to doing things differently led to the creation of Confident Parenting, an online platform launched in 2024 to give families access to practical resources anytime, anywhere.

For Tanya, living in Dubbo offers more than a career—it’s a lifestyle. “There’s a lot of myth and stereotypes about regional areas. For many, the Blue Mountains feels like the edge of what they know. There can be a perception that further west is just red dirt and tumbleweeds. But that’s simply not the case. Here, you can grab a coffee, go to the theatre or gallery, enjoy the zoo or river walks—there’s so much on offer.”

She’s quick to point out that her family thrives here too. “At home I have views of rolling green hills, and my kids have wide open spaces to run and enjoy their childhood. Doctors who join us are often surprised at how much they love it here. We live in a beautiful region—it’s a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Most importantly, Tanya believes Dubbo gives professionals opportunities they might not find in metro areas. “You can enjoy a meaningful career here, with real chances for progression, while living alongside an incredible lifestyle. That’s what makes Dubbo so special.”


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