Hi, my name is Marcel, and I am currently the Chief Medical Officer and Developmental Paediatrician at Royal Far West.
My career has been dedicated to improving healthcare access for children and families in rural and remote Australia.
What does your role involve?
As Chief Medical Officer at Royal Far West, I provide strategic oversight of and advocacy for our clinical services. That means working alongside allied health clinicians, nurses, doctors, operations and governance teams and building relationships with local health services, to make sure what we offer country kids is as high quality, safe and accessible as possible.
How long have you been with Royal Far West?
I have been with the organisation for 10 years.
What led you to work at Royal Far West?
Rural medicine runs in my family. My grandfather, Dr Jacob Zimmet, arrived in Australia in the early 1940s as a Jewish-Polish immigrant and took his first medical post at Whyalla Hospital in rural South Australia. Rural Australia gave my family a safe haven, and he never forgot that. My father, Prof Paul Zimmet, grew up in Whyalla too and spent his career building deep research and clinical partnerships with First Nations communities, work that shaped my own passion for First Nations health. I finished my training in the Northern Territory and set up my first private practice there.
When I moved to Sydney and was introduced to Royal Far West, it ticked every box: a brilliant team, a magnificent purpose, and a base on Manly Beach. I’m now a committed ocean swimmer, so who could want more!?
Can you describe your typical day?
My days are a mix of leadership and direct clinical work. My current clinical focus is our developmental clinic at Dubbo Base Hospital, where I work with training paediatricians to build their skills while expanding access to specialist care for local kids. Otherwise, I’m in meetings, mostly on Teams these days as I’m now based in Melbourne, working on everything from clinical quality and safety to electronic health records and AI, to government submissions advocating for country kids’ developmental health needs.
What do you love about working with families from rural and remote Australia?
The cliché that rural families are down to earth rings true to me. There’s a warmth and openness that makes genuine connection easy, and a real appreciation for what Royal Far West does. Not being country born and bred myself, I find conversations about farming, quad bikes, fishing and Aboriginal cultural events endlessly fascinating.
What do you think makes Royal Far West unique?
The people, the place and purpose.
Where’s your country? – Where do you feel most connected to?
I’ve moved around Australia a lot over the last two decades, and now back in Melbourne after many years, I certainly feel the connection to where I grew up. At the same time, Sydney, Darwin and Alice Springs have all been home to me and retain special connections for me in their waters and lands.
Can you share some career highlights from your time at Royal Far West?
It was incredible hitting the 10 years of service mark last year and reflecting on all the brilliant kids, families and staff I’ve worked with (as well as appreciating some long service leave with my family!)
The highlight of 2025 was joining the Royal Far West Ride for Country Kids, celebrating our centenary. It was magical: reconnecting with families I’d worked with over the years, meeting community elders and leaders, hearing fellow riders’ stories, and each day riding toward the Western Plains horizon through cotton and canola, cattle and goats.
I’m riding again this May and I can’t wait!
This year, the Ride starts in Parkes, and travels through Manildra, Molong, Trundle, and Eugowra, before finishing in Forbes. Every dollar we raise during Ride for Country Kids helps ensure more children get the care and support they need, no matter where they live.