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A town is defined by the strength of its foundational pillars.
When a community has the resources to support essential systems like healthcare and childcare, it thrives - shielding regional areas from physical, economic, and social pressures.
Children hit their developmental milestones, families stay healthy, and the quality of local education rises.
This is exactly why regional towns require innovation, leadership, and education being forged in the regions, by the regions.
Bringing these vital lifelines to fruition are Maddeson Hardman, an emerging regional health leader in Tamworth, and Andrea Londono, who supports early childhood education across Queensland.
Both are alumni of the University of New England (UNE) who chose to build their careers in the regions because they understand a fundamental truth: when you strengthen health and education, you secure a town's entire future.
The value of working in regional towns
Recipient of the prestigious Junior Medical Officer of the Year award, Maddeson was recognised in 2025 for her significant contributions to the education and support of prevocational trainees across the NSW Health system.
"I was extremely humbled to be the recipient of that award for 2025," Maddeson said.
"And I've said it before, but I truly believe that it's not just an award for me - it's because of the contributions of so many people and the opportunities that I was given in Tamworth to be an advocate for regional training for junior doctors in New South Wales.
As a Junior Medical Officer (JMO), Maddeson is a qualified doctor in her early years of postgraduate training.
Working under senior specialists, JMOs provide frontline patient care, conduct daily ward rounds, order diagnostic tests, manage drug charts, coordinate discharge plans, and perform essential medical procedures. As such, they have broad exposure to our medical system.
Reflecting on her career so far, Maddeson's dream for healthcare in regional New South Wales is to see regional communities be a place that people strive to live and work in.
"I think that regional communities really thrive when you've got a workforce that cares not only about the job they're doing, but the community that they're serving as well," Maddeson said.
"And I think that by studying regionally and undertaking some of your junior doctor years regionally, that can really reinforce for people a strong sense of community and a desire to stay there and train there."
Growing up in Armidale, Maddeson's journey started at UNE, which was, unsurprisingly, the obvious choice of university for a local.
"It is quite daunting to leave home at 18. I was really fortunate that UNE sort of offered that really good accessibility to education where I was already living," Maddeson said.
As a university that prides itself on creating the Regions of Tomorrow, UNE offers Australians opportunities to study both online and on campus, with an emphasis on equipping students with strong workforce opportunities that benefit regional communities.
"I think that having the opportunity to train at UNE really helps retain and empower our regional talent as well," Maddeson said.
Since studying at UNE and working in Tamworth as a JMO, Maddeson has been offered an exciting training position in Tasmania for specialising in anaesthetics.
"That was another big achievement for me last year," Maddeson said.
"Some people have the impression that working in rural areas might be a bit restrictive in how far that you can go in your career. I've found it to be the opposite.
"Just because you've trained rurally, it doesn't mean you're limited in your career opportunities.
"You're actually a lot more adaptable, resilient, and you receive a lot of hands-on skills."
Building trust in childcare systems
Andrea Londono is an early childhood pedagogy advisor who supports 20-25 childcare centres across Queensland, mentoring and coaching educators, as well as understanding the context and communities that the kindergartens exist in.
"Nowadays we are welcoming many children with different backgrounds, different ways of being and life or additional needs or behaviours of concern," Andrea said.
"We have interpreters, translators, and many documents translating different languages for families.
"And we have (although not a one-size-fits-all) different approaches for different situations in different contexts.
"What we focus on is doing well for everybody. If all children are supported and everyone feels welcome in the centre, then it's good for everybody involved."
As someone who has worked both abroad and in different parts of Australia, Andrea has witnessed first-hand one crucial thing that regional communities do better than big cities: they know each other.
"In small communities, people know each other," Andrea said.
"Knowing the people around you can support health, a sense of community and commitment to helping each other.
"This sense of connection is more alive in the small communities than the big cities."
Hopes for the future of regional Australia
Both Maddeson and Andrea have large hopes and ambitions for the future of regional Australia.
Maddeson believes that by advocating for working in healthcare in regional areas, she is encouraging people to bolster the workforce to make communities more sustainable and deliver better health outcomes.
"I don't think you should have different health outcomes just because you have a different postcode," said Maddeson.
"The most rewarding part of my work experience is having the opportunity to promote rural health careers and knowing that as a flow-on effect that will positively influence lots of different communities and people."
For Andrea, the future of childcare in regional towns is equally paramount to a healthy community.
"My goal is for people to have access to good quality early childhood education services," Andrea said.
"To have access to qualified and well-trained educators who uphold their safety and their rights.
"To thrive and learn and have a good experience attending school and enjoying learning."
UNE is proud to spotlight the achievements of Maddeson and Andrea not only as a testament to the thriving career opportunities that exist within regional health and education, but as a reminder of the profound impact that dedicated local leaders can have on us all.