Dr Nicole Higgins

"Huh? Oh you mean Mark (I do prefer that rather than Dr Raines) . Well for starters I am a West Australian not a Queenslander, sorry. That just where my folks got off the boat sea sick from their "luxury" migration cruise from the UK.

I am married with two young children and of course they are beautiful. One born in Nhulunbuy and the other on Kangaroo Island at the opposite side of Australia. Now don't let that worry you about my stability because my wife and I have a 10 year plan to stay in Mackay whilst the kids get educated.

What do I do? (well apart from being a doctor). If you check out my Facebook site you may see that I enjoy wandering around taking photos. There are also some videos of close calls on my pushbike as I ride to work and home.  

I go bush walking, diving and apart from an incident on Dunk Island, have never got lost. I also enjoy cooking - unfortunately my creative spirit has been dampened by having two kids who profess bland vegetarianism. I do make a very tasty wallaby and blackcurrant stew.

I enjoy being a GP, particularly the variety of challenges that may walk through the door. I got my medical degree from Flinders University in 2000. I slaved through my internship and junior doctor years at Royal Darwin Hospital. Earlier in my life I had worked there as a pharmacist. I have previously worked in Emergency Medicine, delivered babies and dabbled in surgery. Once I even had to drill a hole in someone's skull.

In some of my spare time I do a blog with a medical slant at https://rain0021.wordpress.com/

Rebecca attended her primary and secondary schooling in Andergrove, so she knows our local community well.

Rebecca graduated from James Cook University Medical School in 2005 as part of the inaugural graduating class. Rebecca achieved her specialist General Practice fellowship in 2011. Since then, she has also obtained her Diploma in Child Health through Westmead Children’s Hospital in 2016.
Her interests in General Practice are broad and include Women’s and Children’s health, chronic disease management, skin cancer management and preventative medicine. She also enjoys surgical assisting at the Mackay Mater Hospital. 

On weekends she enjoys exploring our beautiful region with her family and three children.

Helen is a long loved local GP in Mackay of over 30 years' experience.

Helen joined Health on Central in September 2018.

With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Helen is a welcome addition.

Helen has an interest in complex chronic health, Womens Health and skin work.

Helen is a keen bushwalker and in her spare time she loves to sail with her family and friends.

Helen is not taking new patients 

I too am a story of an accidental tourist who never left. I initially was sent to Mackay in Medical School in 2015, but I fell for Mackay's charm and built my life here. I graduated from James Cook University in 2016 and spent my first two post graduate years working in many fields at the Mackay Base Hospital, including obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics and general medicine & surgery, finally specializing as a General Practitioner in 2021 with the RACGP. 

I have a particular interest in Women's Health (Obs & Gynae) and Children's Health, alongside preventative medicine, skin cancer medicine, lifestyle medicine, and chronic disease care. I also teach Medical Students weekly at James Cook University and thoroughly enjoy my teaching role. My interests outside of medicine vary just as much as my interests within Medicine, and I keep busy with one hobby after another.