The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has recognised four outstanding Victorian general practice leaders and one exceptional practice at the RACGP Victoria Awards, celebrating excellence in patient care, community service, education, and leadership.
The awards honour GPs and practices making a significant difference to the health and wellbeing of their communities and advancing the future of general practice.
This year's Victorian award recipients are:
- GP of the Year: Dr Vajna Rafeek
- Practice of the Year: Hanson Medical Centre
- GP Supervisor of the Year: Dr Colin Knight
- GP in Training of the Year: Dr Naba Alfayadh
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz congratulated all award recipients for their exceptional contributions to patients, communities, and the profession.
"These award winners represent the very best of general practice in Victoria," Dr Muñoz said.
"They have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to caring for patients, supporting their communities, and strengthening our profession through leadership, innovation, education, and advocacy.
"Whether it's providing urgent care late into the evening, mentoring future generations of GPs, creating innovative health programs for vulnerable communities, or delivering truly integrated team-based care, each recipient has made a profound difference to the lives of others.
"On behalf of the RACGP, I congratulate all our winners and thank them for their dedication to improving health outcomes for Victorians."
GP of the Year: Dr Vajna Rafeek
Dr Vajna Rafeek has devoted more than three decades to serving her community through clinical care, advocacy, and medical education.
Drawing on her background in emergency medicine, Dr Rafeek recognised the crucial role general practice can play in urgent care and established urgent care services and extended operating hours when Hanson Medical Centre opened in 2012. The practice remains open until 10pm every day of the year.
During Melbourne's thunderstorm asthma crisis in 2016, Dr Rafeek led her team in delivering urgent respiratory care to approximately 300 patients, keeping the clinic open until 3am to meet community demand.
She is also passionate about taking healthcare beyond the walls of the clinic, supporting multicultural communities through health promotion activities, preventive health initiatives, and free dental screening programs for vulnerable populations.
Practice of the Year: Hanson Medical Centre
Hanson Medical Centre is a GP-owned multidisciplinary practice designed to provide comprehensive, patient-centred care under one roof.
The centre offers pathology, allied health, dental care, specialist services, audiology, cardiac investigations, nursing support, preventive health programs, urgent care, and extended-hours services, operating until 10pm every day of the year.
The practice has also played a key role in supporting young people's access to healthcare through the Doctors in Secondary Schools Program and contributes to school-based oral health promotion activities.
Committed to developing the future general practice workforce, Hanson Medical Centre supports Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) registrars and international medical graduates while maintaining a strong focus on community engagement through multicultural health promotion initiatives.
GP Supervisor of the Year: Dr Colin Knight
Dr Colin Knight has been recognised for his outstanding commitment to training, mentoring, and supporting the next generation of general practitioners.
Those he supervises describe him as patient, enthusiastic, approachable, and deeply invested in helping learners build confidence and clinical skills.
A passionate advocate for medical education, Dr Knight takes great pride in supporting GPs and medical students to grow professionally and personally, fostering a positive learning environment where questions are encouraged and continuous development is supported.
GP in Training of the Year: Dr Naba Alfayadh
Former refugee Dr Naba Alfayadh has been recognised for her remarkable contributions to medicine, education, community health, and social equity.
While pregnant with her daughter, Dr Alfayadh conceived the idea for Rahma Health, a global community-led charity supporting Arabic-speaking families with culturally and psychologically safe parenting and health education. Through digital platforms, clinician education, and partnerships with organisations including The Royal Women's Hospital and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Rahma Health has reached more than three million people worldwide, including communities in Melbourne, Baghdad, and Gaza.
Dr Alfayadh has also founded Happy Brain Education and Ruya Publishing, demonstrating her commitment to improving health literacy, social cohesion, and inclusion. Through her advocacy work and children's publishing initiatives, she seeks to combat both Islamophobia and antisemitism while building stronger and more connected communities.
The Victorian award winners will now progress as finalists for the RACGP National Awards, which recognise excellence in general practice across Australia.
