Bridging Islands and Incisions: AGES member Dr Temalesi Windust’s Journey Across Borders and Barriers
OPHA Board Member, Dr Temalesi Windust recently featured in the Australian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery Society Ltd | July Newsletter. You can read the full article below:
Bridging Islands and Incisions: AGES member Dr Temalesi Windust’s Journey Across Borders and Barriers
AGES Member Profile | By Dr Kirsten Connan
I first met Dr Temalesi (Tema) Windustin 2009 during my first consultant postat the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, Fiji. It was a high-pressure environment—over 6000 births a year,five specialists, and an overwhelming volume of gynaecological pathology.Even in such a demanding setting,Tema’s work ethic, interpersonal skills,and professionalism stood out. She was one of the brightest junior doctors I had encountered, and I feel incredibly proud to now call her a colleague in FRANZCOG.
Today, Dr Windust serves as a part-time Staff Specialist at Mount Gambier Hospital, Limestone Coast Region, the largest regional hospital in South Australia, while also running her private gynaecology practice in the same area. She holds an academic role as Clinical Lecturer with Flinders University and actively supervises rural medical students and GP trainees on the South Australian Rural Medical(SARM) Program.
She has recently been appointed as a RANZCOG Trainee Supervisor for third-and fourth-year trainees on rural placements, further demonstrating her dedication to regional training. Tema is dual-trained through both Fiji and the FRANZCOG pathway, becoming the first Indigenous iTaukei woman to graduate from the Fiji School of Medicine and successfully complete the full FRANZCOG fellowship. Her fellowship journey included a decade of training in New Zealand before relocating to Australia in 2020, where she’s focused on advancing surgical access and equity in rural settings.
A generalist obstetrician-gynaecologist, her key interests lie in minimally invasive surgery, endoscopy,and uro gynaecology. After starting her surgical career in open gynaecology, Tema dedicated the second decade of her practice to endoscopic training—culminating in the introduction of the first total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) service at Mount Gambier Hospital in 2024, a milestone achievement for the region.
Life Beyond the Theatre
Dr Windust is a proud wife and mother to three sons—all born indifferent countries as a result of her training journey. Her eldest, now 22, was born in Fiji; her middle child in New Zealand; and her youngest in Australia. Tema speaks candidly about the resilience and support her family provides, noting that her faith and second chances in life have shaped her both personally and professionally.
When she’s not in scrubs, she enjoys travelling, dancing, music, and sport—especially netball. Community service remains close to her heart: “It was instilled in me as a child, and it continues to bring me joy.”
AGES Membership: A GlobalNetwork, A Local Impact
Tema’s engagement with AGES has been transformative. “AGES gave me a whole new perspective on gynaecological management,” she says. “It’s an incredible network of world-class surgeons across Australia,New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific.”
Her involvement with AGES enabled her to introduce minimally invasive surgical services to her regional community. She now hopes to collaborate with AGES to develop a structured rural advanced training pathway—including six-month rotations for senior RANZCOG trainees in regional centres like Mount Gambier, paired with exchange placements for Masters-level O&G trainees from Fiji and the Pacific Islands. Her vision: to elevate standards of care across borders through shared learning and equity-driven training.
The Regional Experience:Challenges and Rewards
A typical week for Dr Windust is dynamic:
Mondays are major operating days, often including TLHs, prolapse repairs, and endometriosis surgeries, supported by accredited trainees and medical students.
Tuesdays and Thursday are dedicated to private consulting,
Wednesdays involve high-risk public antenatal and gynaecology clinics, and
Fridays are used for admin,registrar supervision, or on-call duties.
With a 1:3 weekend on-call roster, Tema balances clinical demands with precious family time.
She reflects, “Working in regional South Australia brings an incredible sense of community. The people are resilient and kind, and the work culture is deeply fulfilling. You have immediate access to multidisciplinary teams, and everything—from work to school to sport—is within easy reach.”
Yet, she acknowledges the challenges: “Geographic isolation can foster professional silos. That’s why staying connected to networks like AGES and RANZCOG is essential.”
AFEG: A Pacific Surgical Movement
Dr Windust is the founding lead of the Australia/NZ-Fiji Endoscopic and Urogynaecology Group (AFEG) — a passionate volunteer collective with a vision to establish and sustain endoscopic and urogynaecological surgical services across Fiji. Since 2020, AFEG has conducted regular three-monthly outreach programs introducing foundational hysteroscopy and laparoscopy training into Fiji’s public hospitals.
Her core team includes AGES Fellows and regional collaborators such as Professors Vivien Wong and Drs Anna Nicholson, Magda Halt, Louise White, Tanusha Rao, Kirsten Connan, Madeleine Honner, Colin Weatherill, Aggie Thelm, V.P Singh and theatre nurses Ms Andrea Jones & Atelaite Waqabaca & anaesthetists Ms Rowena Grice & Daniel Jolley.
Dr Windust extends special thanks to the Fiji & Australian Government,Ministry of Health, Aspen Medical Services, and co-leads Dr VasitiaCati, Dr Nanise Sikiti, Dr Sailosi Ratumaitavuki, and key volunteer Mrs Pitila Thompson for their ongoing support and partnership. Shealso expresses sincere gratitude to Karl Storz for the provision of vital loan equipment for each outreach, and to key mentors in gynaecology including Professor Roy Watson and Dr Graeme Walker.
AFEG now seeks formal endorsement under the Oceania Pacific HealthAssociation (OPHA) and is exploring formal alignment with AGES Oceania Pacific. Volunteers are always welcome. “If you're keen to get involved, please reach out,” she encourages.
A Call to Trainees: TheRegions Need You
To current and future trainees, DrWindust offers this invitation:
“Come to Mount Gambier! Whetheryou have a family or not, the lifestyleis unbeatable. The training is broad,the learning curve is rich, and thecommunity is warm. There’s nobetter place to grow as a well-rounded consultant.”
In every sense, Dr Temalesi Windust isa bridge-builder—between countries,surgical systems, and generations. Hercareer embodies the mission of AGES:innovation, collaboration, and impact.
