A seventh-generation cattle farmer turned rural doctor, Dr Anneliese Slack brings a deeply personal understanding of life in the bush to her work.
Now she’s bringing that insight to one of Queensland’s most anticipated rural medical events.
Dr Slack, a rural generalist Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at Sarina Hospital and a senior lecturer in rural medicine with James Cook University, has taken on the role of convenor for the 2026 Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) conference, to be held in Cairns from 25 to 27 June.
Her connection to rural Queensland runs far deeper than her clinical role. Dr Slack grew up on a property near Gayndah, in the North Burnett region, where her family are well known in agricultural circles, with a long history of cattle breeding and land stewardship. She still returns home whenever she can to lend a hand.
Her lived experience has shaped her understanding of the unique challenges facing people in rural communities, particularly when it comes to accessing healthcare.
“I’ve grown up surrounded by the realities rural Queenslanders face every day,” she said.
“That perspective stays with me in my work as a doctor and in how I approach opportunities like this conference.”
The RDAQ 2025 conference will shine a spotlight on rural general practitioners as the backbone of healthcare in regional and remote communities, while tackling the real and evolving challenges facing primary care.
The theme is ‘Stockyards and Stethoscopes: Medicine in the Heart of Queensland’. It reflected both Dr Slack’s background and her vision to highlight agricultural and occupational medicine, areas that are intrinsically linked to rural life, she said.
“My vision is for an exceptionally engaging academic program alongside a really enjoyable and well-attended social program,” she said.
“We’re focusing on clinical topics that matter to rural doctors, with an agricultural lens that reflects the communities we serve.”
Her ongoing passion for both learning and teaching made the conference convenor role a natural fit.
With an Advanced Skill Training focus in academic medicine, Dr Slack is particularly driven to deliver a high-quality and relevant program at the conference.
“I love to learn, teach and apply knowledge in practice,” she said.
“Being able to shape the academic program really appealed to me, and it was also a great way to become more involved with RDAQ.”
Held at the Pullman Cairns International, the two-and-a-half-day conference will bring together rural doctors from across the state to learn, connect and celebrate their profession.
Pre-conference workshops, keynote presentations, policy forums and interactive sessions will offer extensive opportunities for professional development, alongside a vibrant social program.
Since 1989, the RDAQ conference has played a vital role in uniting Queensland’s rural medical workforce, something Dr Slack believes is more important than ever.
“There’s something really special about this conference,” she said.
“It’s a chance to reflect on our work, learn from each other, celebrate achievements and reconnect as a community. No other event brings rural doctors together in quite the same way.”
For Dr Slack, the conference is more than just an event. It’s an opportunity to strengthen the connections and knowledge that sustain rural medicine.
“Attendance and participation are what make this conference so special,” she said.
“I’d encourage anyone interested in RDAQ2026 to start planning now. We can’t wait to welcome you to Cairns.”