As a foreign physician, Dr Shieh needed to obtain a position in an 'area of need', and the couple chose Port Stephens because of its close proximity to both the big city and the water. One of Dr Shieh's loves is ocean swimming.

Dr Shieh, who specialises in family medicine, was soon employed as a GP at the Tanilba Bay Medical Clinic, a practice staffed by the healthcare providers from all over the world.

"Having worked in the US, China and New Zealand, it was refreshing to see that Australia had a fantastic healthcare system. It was such a relief to practice medicine in a place where I don't have to ask 'can you afford this medication'," Dr Shieh said.

"It was empowering to work in a place where every patient can have a GP, can have access to medications, and can go to the hospital and not become bankrupt."

After some time Dr Shieh did identify a gap in the health system on the Tilligerry peninsula, which she described as a lack of connectivity among the many social, community and support services and programs available.

"In the Tilligerry we have more than 100 different organisations, each doing a wonderful job in the community but with very little communication amongst each other," she said.

"I felt we needed to integrate some of these programs, initiate a point of contact, so I established Tilligerry Connect."

Tilligerry Connect is a website specially designed for those who live in Salt Ash, Oyster Cove, Tanilba Bay, Mallabula and Lemon Tree Passage and includes community groups, schools, preschools, fun activities, health and wellbeing services, businesses, land, environment and animal care and more.

"We started it in to improve connections of people in the community to each other and services in the community in order to reduce loneliness and social isolation and improve the social determinants of health," Dr Shieh says.

"We also aim to help allied health practitioners, GPs and nurses to refer to services in the community.

"We are in partnership with Tanilba Bay Medical Centre, Tilligerry Lions, Port Stephens Council, The Smith Family, the Tilligerry Family Network of Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services, Tilligerry Community Association, Tilli Place, Jupiter/Caring for our Port Stephens Youth, Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre and the Hunter New England Primary Health Network."

Mapping what is already out there is one of the major focus points, where Dr Shieh has over time compiled a list of assets in the community, detailing the opportunities and strengths by mapping the support available and informing the public through a variety of ways.

"We have looked at the gaps in service provision by working with locals to find solutions. We draw on their knowledge, abilities and resources to develop a new service where appropriate. This leads to increased confidence and a sense of empowerment for those involved.

"Peer support is also important. Groups and services take many forms and we support people to set up peer support groups, our job is to help guide them through the set-up process and be there as requ9ired.

"Communicating with the community is imperative and we recognise that people access support and information in different ways. We use website, social media, radio, print, telephone and face to face meetings to distribute information.

"As well as working one-to-one, we run health connections groups such as talking cafes, self management programs, on track goal setting groups, introduction to exercise classes and a health and wellbeing program for anyone who is interested.

"Then there are the community and health connectors. Community connectors signpost family, friends and neighbours to link them with support groups and service and health connectors work one-on-one with patients in clinics and at home."

After five years dedicating herself to the health and wellbeing of her community, Dr Shieh has announced she would be leaving to travel around Australia with her husband. But before she leaves in September, she hopes her work can continue though the TBMC and the many people she has met along her journey.

"I will be leaving the practice on August 31 and I will be using the month of September to work on the Connect project and trying out our vehicle and exploring our local area," she said.

"We want to find new members to keep the work going that we have started, and I will continue to support the website ]financially if needed] and being available for calls and emails, etc.

"I am also still planning on applying for a grant through Primary Health Network in June through the medical centre to hire a community development worker.

"I have grown to love this community and its people and I intend to remain connected through Tilligerry Connect."

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