When Dr Maddeson Hardman walked across the stage to receive the 2025 NSW Junior Medical Officer of the Year award, it was not only a personal achievement. It was also a testament to the power of regional education and the importance of giving back to the communities that shape us.
Growing up in Armidale and attending Duval High School, Maddeson's path to medicine began with chemistry and biology teachers who sparked her scientific curiosity. But her part-time retail work – and a genuine love for helping people and building meaningful connections – would also influence her future career.
"Pharmacy and healthcare felt like the perfect way to combine those interests," Maddeson said, "using science to make a difference while building genuine connections with the community."
Maddeson's time completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours at UNE, and living at Austin College, was “incredibly formative”.
“You were known as an individual," she said, "which made the experience both personal and enriching." In fact, Maddeson was so passionate about her UNE experience that she worked for a time as a student ambassador promoting the university.
The friendships forged during those years have proven lasting. Many of her UNE friends attended her recent Armidale wedding (with photos taken on the lawns at Booloominbah!) and are now excelling across diverse fields including law, teaching, medicine, pharmacy, nursing and agriculture.
After completing her UNE degree, Maddeson followed her (now) husband to Western Australia where she undertook her medical degree at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle.
“I was a rural doctor’s cadet as a student and JMO. This cadetship facilitated my transition back to rural NSW and allowed to me to take my skills back to the region in which I was raised.”
While many medical graduates are drawn to metropolitan centres, Maddeson's decision to return to the New England region for her internship at Tamworth Hospital was deliberate and meaningful.
"It was important to me to give back to the community that supported me throughout my journey into medicine. Growing up in a regional community has given me a first-hand understanding of the challenges people can face when accessing healthcare outside metropolitan areas.”
That Tamworth internship provided unique opportunities that may not have been available in a larger metropolitan hospital. "Senior doctors were genuinely invested in your development," Maddeson said, "giving you real opportunities to expand your knowledge and clinical skills. The combination of hands-on experience and strong mentorship has provided me with a solid and well-rounded foundation for my career."
Maddeson’s recognition as NSW Medical Officer of the Year highlights individual excellence, but also the strength of regional medical education and healthcare. "The New England area has an incredibly welcoming and collaborative medical community," Maddeson said. "I feel very fortunate to have begun my junior doctor years here."
Image: Maddeson's wedding photos were taken on the lawns of Booloominbah.
