The Sandstone story began with a small group of people with a lot of determination. Each brought a different kind of courage — academic, clinical, policy, and community.
Sandstone’s DNA of fairness, collaboration, compassion, and innovation first emerged through them
When Claire Jackson became Head of General Practice at the University of Queensland, she arrived with a five-year plan but found a crisis waiting. The new priority? ‘Protect our teaching practice: save Inala.’ Claire was a “true champion, a tour de force,” leading the academic and strategic case for a new independent organisation. She drew on her remarkable ability to connect people across hospitals, universities and government, and those alliances turned the ‘Inala problem’ into the esteemed Beacon Practice model — proving how powerful general practice can be in managing chronic disease.
John was chairing national health-reform initiatives and working as a GP in his own practice when, “out of the blue,” Queensland Health asked him to lead a struggling general practice. He had the policy credentials and the national standing it would need to survive. He said yes and went on to guide the transition from Queensland Health. That phone call led to two decades as dedicated Chairman of this ambitious new venture — Sandstone Healthcare. In 2012, John, Claire and our next champion welcomed Tracey Johnson as CEO — “the breath of fresh air that took us to places we never knew existed.
Tony Russell had just become Director of Endocrinology at Princess Alexandra Hospital when he saw how many patients were missing follow-up consultations at the hospital. What would change if care could be managed closer to home? He partnered with Prof Claire Jackson to co-design and trial a new model at Inala, training GPs in specialist-level care so they could deliver it. It was a courageous move, and the results were profound – significantly better outcomes at lower cost. The Rescue Team calls him the “real hero.” Tony says the same thing about them.
An experienced policy officer from Ireland, Eugene joined Queensland Health, tasked with strengthening community-health partnerships in Brisbane’s south. When Inala’s future was on the line, he became Queensland Health’s representative – and Inala’s quiet champion. Working behind the scenes, and often against the current, he negotiated the initial peppercorn rent, covered annual deficits, and secured grants that helped the organisation stand on its own. Eugene walked the line between system and need, advocating for ideas that didn’t always align with current priorities.
Pat Matthews was Executive Director of Brisbane South Community Health when the rescue began. Working with Claire Jackson and Tony Russell, she secured the funding and Queensland Health approval for Inala’s full transformation — from five consulting rooms to fifteen. Pat gave the project political cover and bureaucratic muscle when it needed both.
Meet the people who were among the first to step forward. Each played a vital role in establishing the organisation’s culture of teamwork, innovation, and care.
One of the first doctors to join Inala and its Clinical Director since 2007.
A junior admin officer at transition, Fab has been our Practice Manager since 2018.
Head of the Mater Refugee Health Program and long-time partner in our Refugee Nurse co-location program.
Our first co-located Refugee Nurse, now Nurse Manager for Mater’s Refugee Health Program. Meryl was named Nurse of the Year in 2018 by the Australian Primary Care Nurses Association.
Our first nurse. She helped create our Keeping Kidneys Service and won a “Kidney Health Champion Award” from Kidney Health Australia. Chris retired as our Nurse Manager in 2024.
First CEO. She delivered the first five years of leadership to the organisation.
First GP. She is still practising in the community and remains the lead GP in our Inala diabetes beacon model.
Nurse and Diabetes Educator since the creation of the diabetes Beacon Project in 2008.
Better health is built together. That is the Sandstone difference. It is why we keep growing and need to find people who share our values. Get in touch.
Our clinicians and practice staff are here to get to know you and support your health—wherever that journey takes you.
