FROM its earliest days, Lister House has built a proud tradition of exceptional, patient-centred care, diagnosing and treating illness, promoting wellbeing and making decisions in genuine partnership with patients from all walks of life.
Over the decades, this ethos has evolved into more than just medical care; it has become a legacy of trust, excellence and continuity. Threaded through the clinic’s distinguished history in general practice are key areas of specialisation that have helped shape its identity as one of the region’s most respected and sought-after practices.
A legacy in obstetrics
One of Lister House’s earliest areas of specialisation was obstetrics. As early as the 1940s, doctors such as Dr Alec Taylor and later, Dr Graeme Jones in the 1960s, were pioneering comprehensive maternity care at a time when general practitioners were still expected to deliver their patients’ babies. Their dedication laid the foundation for what would become a hallmark of the practice: whole-of-life care, beginning with birth.
Pioneering the Family Medicine Program
Lister House holds a proud place in the evolution of general practice training in Australia. In 1981, Dr Paul O’Dwyer became one of the first doctors to undertake the recently established Family Medicine Program, created by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) to standardise and elevate GP training. Trained by Dr Jones himself, Dr O’Dwyer remained at Lister House for his entire career, the first in what would become a long line of registrars who trained at the clinic and chose to stay on.
Doctors Ursula and Glen Russell joined in the early 1990s, also under the guidance of Dr Jones. Dr Ursula went on to become a GP supervisor, training countless young doctors and reinforcing what she describes as the practice’s “family ethos” — a culture deeply committed to teaching, teamwork and lifelong learning. Passionate and dedicated, Dr Ursula is widely recognised as the leading GP training supervisor within the Goulburn and Hume region.
A teaching clinic at its core
That ethos continues today with GP supervisors Dr Lang Lang Yii and Dr Chik Chua, who lead registrar training and medical student education at the practice.
“We try to keep the good learning culture and the teaching environment. What we learnt from our seniors was some of the best education we ever received, and we want to pass on that same legacy to the next generation. It’s not just for registrars or GPs, we’re also teaching medical students who come through the clinic. We do our best to retain and grow the future workforce,” Dr Chua said.
The clinic typically hosts up to four registrars per year and takes medical students from institutions including Melbourne University and, more recently, Newcastle University.
Teamwork and generational care
As Dr Ursula Russell reflects, Lister House has always been more than a clinic, it’s a family.
“We work together incredibly well as a team. In a lot of general practices, people work in isolation. Here, if I’m away, Dr Chik looks after my patients, they know him and he knows them. The doctors, nurses, reception staff all work hand-in-hand and that flows directly into how we care for patients.”
This collaborative model supports what many at Lister House describe as the most fulfilling part of the work: caring for multiple generations of families.
“I’ve been here for 35 years, and I’ve got patients I’ve seen for that whole time — their children and now their grandchildren. Just the other day, I saw a young woman pregnant with her first baby — a baby I’ve known since she was a newborn. We both cried. That 35-year relationship is very special,” Dr Ursula said.
Commitment to lifelong and end-of-life care
The team’s deep commitment to continuity extends through every stage of life. Palliative care has long been a cornerstone, thanks in large part to the work of Dr Paul O’Dwyer and ongoing relationships with local hospice services. Nursing home visits remain a priority for Lister House.
“Nursing home care has become very fragmented. Many general practices have stopped doing it altogether. It’s hard work, and poorly remunerated. But we still think it’s incredibly important, especially when we’ve cared for someone for forty years. We continue that care all the way through,” said Dr Ursula.
Responding to a changing community
Lister House has also adapted to meet the needs of an aging population, with increased emphasis on chronic disease management, including diabetes, cardiovascular health and mental health. The clinic is also highly active in skin cancer detection and treatment, responding to growing demand in this area of care.
“We keep ourselves updated. Every Tuesday without fail, we hold a clinical meeting, discussing cases, sharing journals. It’s part of keeping our whole team growing together,” said Dr Mohan kulatunga.
Guest speakers, local health organisations such as Lighthouse Project, visiting specialists and pharmaceutical representatives frequently participate in these sessions, sharing the latest advancements in health care. Each week offers a valuable opportunity for collaborative, cross-disciplinary learning.
