Dr Nicole Higgins
Practice Principal and GP
An accidental tourist who never left.....
I arrived in Mackay in 2003 for a 6-week locum whilst travelling around Australia. I grew up in country Victoria and NSW before going off to study medicine at Monash University.
In 2017, I set up Health on Central as a teaching practice to do things a little bit differently. I am proud of the great team of doctors, nurses and administration that care for patients at HoC.
As a true medical generalist I enjoy seeing patients from all stages of life. I enjoy complex chronic disease, menopause, skin cancer medicine and adolescent mental health as well as teaching.
I have been privileged to hold multiple leadership roles in medicine including being the President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Chair of GP Supervision Australia, director of Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges and Convenor of Future Leaders Program for RACGP. I hold a number of governance and advisory positions.
I try and walk the talk with my own health journey. Whilst I don't always get it right, I aim to eat clean, stay fit and grow my own veggies.
Dr Mark Raines
"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/
Dr Rebecca Perks
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.
Dr Kristiana Pederick
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.
Dr Kate Lindegger
I’m a newbie to Mackay but have lived and worked in a few different places across the world. I’m South African, and this is where I went to Medical School and practiced my first 5 years as a doctor. Medicine in South Africa was fast paced and apart from my internship (where I worked in almost every field of medicine possible), the rest of my time in South Africa I mostly worked in Emergency Medicine. This was exciting and dynamic, and practicing medicine in Africa requires a cool head and practical thinking. In 2017 I decided to go on an adventure and became a cruise ship doctor, which I did for 2 years on various ships around the world, the most iconic being the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elisabeth. QE was where I met my now partner, a lovely Irishman who works as Helicopter Pilot. We decided to move to the UK together as it was somewhere we could both find work, and I had always enjoyed visiting London. We then spent 6 years living in the UK (London for 1 year and Kent for 5 years) and during this time I specialised in General Practice (after the realisation that my passion in medicine was variety and not just one niche). I also worked part time in a Hospice for a year doing palliative care which was immensely rewarding and a deep privilege.
My partner and I decided to move to Australia in 2025 to find more sun and experience a new adventure. I absolutely love the outdoors and movement, and felt Australia could offer more of an active, outdoorsy life than the UK. When I’m not working, you’ll probably find me doing CrossFit, hiking, swimming, surfing or just generally outdoors. I truly hope to call Mackay my forever home. As I mentioned, I don’t have a ‘special interest’ in GP per se, I enjoy seeing all ages and presentations. I like to collaborate with my patients and will never be annoyed if patients Google their medical ailments - this is a completely rational thing to do!
Dr Avinash Krishnamurthy
Dr Lee Huang
DAME and GP Registrar
Dr Lee is an experienced doctor who has decided to train as a GP. Having completed his earlier years at Mackay Base Hospital, Lee has been working on the Gold Coast as a Palliative Care doctor.
As a CASA registered Designated Aviation Medical Examiner, Dr Lee is able to offer services to all persons requiring CASA Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 aviation medicals. Dr Lee has significant aviation experience and has racked up more than 150 hours in Cessna 206 and Cessna 208 single engine aircraft in the last several years. He has also, as part of his DAME training, flown light aircraft, flown in the Qantas 737 Simulator in Brisbane, and toured the Brisbane ATC centre and the air traffic control tower.
Dr Seinn Lae Aye
GP Registrar
Dr Seinn Lae Aye is a dedicated General Practice Registrar who completed her MBBS in Myanmar in 2012. She has more than three years of experience working in general practice and private hospital settings in Myanmar, providing comprehensive care to a wide range of patients.
After successfully passing the Australian Medical Council (AMC) examination in 2018, Dr Aye commenced work as a Resident Medical Officer at Mackay Base Hospital in 2019. Over the following four years, she gained broad clinical experience across multiple hospital departments.
Dr Aye joined the General Practice Training (GPT) program in January 2024. She enjoys all aspects of general practice, with special interests in general medicine, emergency medicine, paediatrics, women’s health, and mental health.
She is a caring and attentive doctor who values listening to her patients and working collaboratively to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Dr Kate Bialy- Currently on Maternity Leave
I moved to Mackay in 2014 to begin my internship at Mackay Base Hospital and I've been here ever since. I mostly grew up in Brisbane but I much prefer the regional lifestyle and the weather in North Queensland and I can't imagine being anywhere else after studying at JCU Townsville and Darwin. I met and married my wonderful husband in Mackay and we've since bought a patch of dirt and (trees!) and we have been slowly transforming it into our home.
I have always loved people and empowering patients to take ownership of their own health. I find it such a privilege to journey with patients through various life stages and particularly enjoy women's health, paediatrics, skin cancer management, weight management and chronic disease management. I also enjoy educating the next generation of doctors and am enrolled to undertake further study in this area.
In my spare time I love getting outdoors; on the bike, climbing mountains, on a stand-up paddleboard, in the garden and Mackay provides ample opportunities! I also have a bit to do with my local church, they are like family and help Mackay feel like home
Areas of interest:
Skin cancer management
Weight management
Women's health
Chronic Illness
Paediatrics
Dr Sarah Zatta- Currently on Maternity Leave
Nursing Team
Tess RN
Nikita RN
Nikita RN
Nikita RN
Nikita RN
Nikita RN
Nat RN
Nikita RN
Nat RN
Administration Team
Deb Administration
Janine Administration
Janine Administration
Janine Administration
Janine Administration
Janine Administration
Tina Administration
Jackie Administration
Jackie Administration
Jackie Administration
Jackie Administration
Jackie Administration
Angela Administration
Angela Administration
Angela Administration
Megan Team Leader
Angela Administration
Angela Administration
Practice Support
Terry
our friendly Sullivan Nicolaides Phlebotomist