Guiding with Heart: Dr Marg Garde OAM on Supervision, Connection and a Life of Learning

Dr Marg Garde is a dedicated GP, educator, and lifelong learner based in Portland, Victoria, whose career has been defined by connection, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to supervision. Based in Portland, Victoria, Marg has made an enduring contribution to general practice, particularly through her decades of supervising and educating medical students and registrars. Her outstanding service was formally recognised in the 2025 Australia Day Honours with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

Our Communications Manager, Pauline Ingham, spoke with Marg to discover what inspires her enduring commitment for medical education.

A Passion for Supervision and Lifelong Learning

Dr Marg Garde’s journey into supervision began with a personal and professional move that would shape the rest of her career. 

“When I moved to Portland as a young doctor to live with my future husband, I felt very professionally isolated - I was the only female doctor here for a long time,” she reflects. “One of the ways I thought I could overcome that was by supervising students.”

For Marg, supervision is deeply intertwined with her own learning. 

“Sharing knowledge and learning together is a big thing - we do learn together,” she says. “This morning, my student and I discussed changes in sexual health screening guidelines before seeing a patient. We looked up the latest info online together, compared it to my approach, and filled in any gaps. It's so much easier to learn with someone else than to go home and fall asleep halfway through a journal article!”

What Makes a Good Supervisor?

“You need to be enthusiastic about teaching and learning,” Marg says. “If you're grumbling about hours or pay, that attitude spreads. If you don’t really want to be doing it, learners can tell.”

But being a supervisor isn’t about having all the answers.

“You don’t need to be all over everything. In fact, it’s more powerful to say, ‘Here’s how I’d do it - let’s check the guidelines.’ That teaches learners how to find the right information and keeps you on track too.”

Listening, understanding your learner, and being genuinely interested in their goals are also vital. 

“You’ve got to get a sense of who your learner is and what they want to learn,” Marg adds.

Why Quality Supervision Matters

“It’s almost self-evident, isn’t it?” Marg says with a smile.

“If trainees are learning and growing, then that’s the result of quality supervision - and that’s what we’re here for.”

She acknowledges that while supervision might begin with the aim of improving the workforce, it’s not always a guaranteed outcome

“If you're training because you want another doctor to stay, you need to rethink that. You can't make someone stay somewhere they don’t want to be. 

“But what you can do is train them to be an excellent GP - wherever they choose to work. That’s an achievable, worthwhile goal.”

Marg values the enduring relationships she’s built with former trainees. 

“Some of them live in Melbourne or interstate now, but we still keep in touch. They’ve had careers, babies… they’ve become part of the richness of my life.”

Watching Students Grow into Doctors

Quoted recently in the media saying, “Watching young students mature into young doctors is one of the most rewarding parts of my career”, Marg elaborates on this with warmth and pride.

“It’s like watching a child grow up,” she says. “They’re all so different - different interests, different ways of learning. If they’re into paediatrics, I get them more kids to see. If aged care, then we find opportunities for that. It’s about helping them get where they want to go.”

Marg reflects on her own early days working in Portland, transitioning from a tertiary hospital to rural general practice. 

“It was a bit scary. I didn’t want anyone else to feel that unsupported, and that’s another reason I started teaching. 

“Building confidence takes time, and part of our job as supervisors is to nurture that until it matches their competence.”

Career Highlights

Among her many highlights, a few stand out. 

“Two of my students decided to stay and work in our community. That’s lovely, but what’s really meaningful is being part of their journey, seeing them grow, explore their interests, and gain confidence.”

She adds, “Students here get broad exposure - they’re not fighting for patients like they might in a city hospital. They get the run of the place, but always under supervision.”

Another highlight? The mutual learning that occurs. 

“I love when students pick up on things I’ve missed - and they’re not afraid to tell me! It’s not like when I was a student and terrified to speak up. Now, they feel empowered. And I learn from that, too. It's a two-way street, and that’s something really special.”

Looking Ahead: A Vision for General Practice

Looking to the future, Marg has a clear aspiration. 

“I want our general practice to be recognised as a centre of excellence for teaching and learning - and I think we’re getting there.”

In addition to students and registrars, her clinic supervises interns and potentially PGY2s. “I’m really excited about that,” she says. “General practice offers so much - medicine, surgery, emergency care, paediatrics - all in one place.”

Marg believes the skills that make a good supervisor also make an exceptional GP: communication, curiosity, a desire to learn, and problem-solving. 

“If we’re seen as a centre of excellence, the investment is worthwhile.”

A Message to Supervisors

“To all the supervisors out there: you do an absolutely amazing job,” Marg says emphatically. “You are critically important to the future of our workforce. Without you, students, registrars, and interns couldn’t learn.”

While acknowledging that financial recognition for supervision can be complex and varies by practice structure, she notes it’s not a straightforward conversation. 

“Practices differ. Some are not-for-profit like ours, some are partnerships. So it’s tricky.”

A Final Word

Marg finished our interview with heartfelt praise for GPSA.

“I’m so impressed with how far GPSA has come. I rely on your resources so much whether it’s for teaching, learning, or when I’ve hit a dead end. Even my practice manager uses your tools. What you do is incredibly relevant and really appreciated. Thank you.”