Overview
Background
Dr Maddie Williams is a full-time Lecturer in Research at the University of Queensland's Rural Clinical School. She joined the University of Queensland in January 2025 and is based at the Bundaberg Clinical Unit.
Maddie was born and raised in regional Queensland and holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from the University of the Sunshine Coast, a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, and a Master of Science by Research in Clinical and Molecular Microbiology from Griffith University.
Upon completing her master's research, Maddie returned to her hometown, where she worked in the health sector before completing her PhD at the University of Queensland's Rural Clinical School through a Research Training Program Scholarship. Her PhD research focused on improving access to primary care in regional, rural, and remote Australian communities.
Maddie is also a strong advocate for quality health care. She is Chair of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS) Research Consumer Advisory Group and serves as a consumer representative on the WBHHS Research Council. She works to ensure consumers have a voice in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of health policy, programs, and services, helping to achieve better health outcomes.
Availability
- Dr Maddie Williams is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science, University of the Sunshine Coast
- Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science, Griffith University
- Masters (Research) of Clinical Microbiology, Griffith University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Health, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Rural and Remote Health
Research focused on improving equitable access to health care for people living in regional, rural, and remote Australian communities. This work examines barriers to health service access, health system challenges, and strategies to improve health outcomes for underserved populations through evidence-based policy and service design.
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Rural Health Workforce
Examines factors influencing the recruitment, retention, and sustainability of the rural health workforce. Research focuses on innovative models of care, workforce planning, and strategies that support access to high-quality health services in regional, rural, and remote areas.
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Health Policy and Systems Improvement
Research aimed at informing health policy and improving health system effectiveness. Interests include evidence-informed decision-making, health service evaluation, and policy approaches that support equitable access to care and better health outcomes for regional and rural populations.
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Consumer and Community Involvement in Health Research
Explores meaningful consumer and community engagement in health research, policy, and service development. This work aims to strengthen partnerships between researchers, health services, and communities to ensure research and healthcare initiatives are relevant, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.
Works
Search Professor Maddie Williams’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Other Outputs
Exploring Dimensions of Access to Primary Care in Regional, Rural, and Remote Communities in Queensland, Australia: A Comparative Study of Importance and Lived Experience
Williams, Maddie (2026). Exploring Dimensions of Access to Primary Care in Regional, Rural, and Remote Communities in Queensland, Australia: A Comparative Study of Importance and Lived Experience. PhD Thesis, Medical School (Rural Clinical School), The University of Queensland.
2026
Journal Article
Understanding how rurality relates to residents' experiences of accessing primary care: An interview‐based study
Williams, Maddie, Gurney, Tiana and McGrail, Matthew (2026). Understanding how rurality relates to residents' experiences of accessing primary care: An interview‐based study. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 34 (1) e70153, 1-9. doi: 10.1111/ajr.70153
2025
Journal Article
Assessing comparative dimensions of access when accessing primary care across different levels of rurality
Higgins, Maddie, Gurney, Tiana and McGrail, Matthew (2025). Assessing comparative dimensions of access when accessing primary care across different levels of rurality. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 33 (4) e70080, 1-7. doi: 10.1111/ajr.70080
2024
Conference Publication
Identifying and evaluating comparative barriers and enablers to accessing primary care across different ruralities
Higgins, Maddie, Gurney, Tiana and Matthew McGrail (2024). Identifying and evaluating comparative barriers and enablers to accessing primary care across different ruralities. 17th National Rural Health Conference, Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, 16-18 September 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
The varying importance of primary care access barriers and enablers across different ruralities
Higgins, Maddie, Gurney, Tiana and McGrail, Matthew (2024). The varying importance of primary care access barriers and enablers across different ruralities. 17th National Rural Health Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 16-18 September 2024.
2020
Journal Article
The microbial biofilm composition on peripherally inserted central catheters: a comparison of polyurethane and hydrophobic catheters collected from paediatric patients
Higgins, Maddie, Zhang, Li, Ford, Rebecca, Brownlie, Jeremy, Kleidon, Tricia, Rickard, Claire M. and Ullman, Amanda (2020). The microbial biofilm composition on peripherally inserted central catheters: a comparison of polyurethane and hydrophobic catheters collected from paediatric patients. The Journal of Vascular Access, 22 (3), 1129729820932423-393. doi: 10.1177/1129729820932423
2019
Journal Article
The development of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Qpcr) method for the detection of staphylococcus aureus in peripherally inserted central catheter (picc) colonisation
Higgins, Maddie, Brownlie, Jeremy, Zhang, Li and Ford, Rebecca (2019). The development of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Qpcr) method for the detection of staphylococcus aureus in peripherally inserted central catheter (picc) colonisation. Vascular Access, 5 (2), 23-28. doi: 10.33235/va.5.2.23-28
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Maddie Williams is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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