Over the back fence with Matthew McGrail
Matthew McGrail
Your name and position
Dr Matthew McGrail
Senior Research Fellow (based at the School of Rural Health – Churchill)
Describe your role
As a full-time researcher I’m leading two major projects: MABEL (Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life) with the CRE in Medical Workforce Dynamics where I lead the rural medical workforce supply and distribution research theme; and the CRE in Rural and Remote Primary Health Care. The main “deliverable” for this second project is the Index of Access, where I lead our research team on improved measures of access to primary health care services in rural areas.
Why is it important?
As a metro-bred researcher who’s moved to rural, I’m highly conscious of the poorer access rural people have to healthcare services and generally poorer health outcomes. Finding better ways to give people access to the services they need is important for minimising health inequalities.
What is the best aspect of your work with the School of Rural Health?
I love the autonomy I have in my role; I’m given a fairly long leash! My background is in maths, IT and statistics. This role brings together my love of analysing data and using that to improve rural health outcomes.
When you are not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
Janelle and I have twins in grade 6, so I spend a lot of time with them. They’re at a fun age at the moment. I also like long distance running. But right at the moment I’m injured and can’t run, which is a sore point. When I can run, I like getting out and enjoying the outdoors.
What was your most recent holiday destination and why did you choose it?
Can I talk about the holiday coming up in a month? We’re spending three weeks in the USA and taking the kids to visit Disneyland in California while we’re there.
If you were Emperor for a day, what is one thing you would implement?
I’d like fairer distribution of all sorts of resources and opportunities. It’s what drives the Index of Access: making sure rural people get a fair go in their health.
Surprise us! What is something about you that most of your peers would not know?
I’m not a product of a rural upbringing. I went to Melbourne High then Melbourne University so I’m inner-city metro-bred, but I love rural. Where many young people leave rural areas for the city, I ran in the other direction after study and went rural.