Dr Richard Mayes
Dr Richard Mayes is an experienced General Practitioner (GP) and Obstetrician in Castlemaine, Central Victoria. Dr Mayes graduated from Monash University School of Medicine in 1998 and was part of the inaugural medical student committee for Monash Rural Health Program in his second year. Dr Mayes achieved the Diploma of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) in 2003 and became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Practitioners (RACGP) in 2006. He now practices across Goldfields Medical Hub (Castlemaine, Maldon, Bendigo), Bendigo Health and Dhelkaya Health (Castlemaine) hospitals.
Dr Mayes is a passionate rural and regional medical educator. In 2021 he was awarded the RACGP Brian Williams Award, in recognition of his service as a GP Registrar Supervisor, Medical Educator and Clinical Hub Coordinator for Monash University Medical School for the Bendigo Goldfields region.
Dr Mayes is a national instructor for the Australian Maternity and Reproductive Education (AMaRE) and PROMPT training programs, focusing on improving a systematic and safe approach to maternity emergencies. He was awarded the AMaRE Instructor of the Year in 2016.
Dr Mayes is a leading voice in community-based healthcare and social wellbeing. After turning to dance for his own social wellbeing, Dr Mayes became an amateur dance instructor for Silver Tops Dance Class. Dr Mayes’ patients ‘demanded’ he start a program for people of all ages and abilities, leading to his collaboration with Sarah Cook at Movement Zone Studio. He is known regionally as the ‘Dancing Doctor’, as dance and social connection have become a significant part of his mission.
Dr Mayes was also an establishing team member of the Get Connected Program. The program tackles the endemic issue of social disconnection, found to be a significant determinant of morbidity and mortality. Dr Mayes is a sought after speaker on this topic, hoping to inspire a healthcare system that enables practitioners and patients to thrive in a more connected future.
For 16 years, Dr Mayes has been locally renowned for being ‘The Bird’ mascot for Castlemaine’s Run The Maine fun-run, which has raised close to $200,000 for Dhelkaya Health.