Our Doctors

Dr Kristel Yap graduated from the University of Nottingham, UK, in 2014. She has been practising medicine for over 12 years, gaining experience across a wide range of hospital specialties before completing her General Practice training in 2021. Since then, she has worked as a General Practitioner, providing comprehensive care to patients of all ages. Having recently relocated from the United Kingdom, she is delighted to now be caring for the Cairns community.
Dr Yap enjoys all aspects of family medicine, including children’s health, women’s health, mental health, chronic disease management and elderly care. She is committed to providing compassionate, patient-centred care tailored to each individual’s needs.
Outside of work, Dr Yap enjoys travelling, keeping active through reformer Pilates and BodyAttack classes, and spending time with family and friends.

Raised in Mareeba, Dr Marlee has a strong connection to Far North Queensland and a deep commitment to community health. Her clinical interests include chronic disease management, preventative health, and skin cancer medicine. After completing her medical training in Sydney, she returned to Cairns to practice in the region she proudly calls home.
Dr Marlee is passionate about delivering holistic, patient centred care and working collaboratively with patients to support sustainable, long term health and wellbeing.
Outside of work, she enjoys sourdough baking, is an aspiring tennis player, and a keen cycling enthusiast, always up for a challenge both in and out of the clinic.

Dr. Brendan grew up in the tropics of Far North Queensland, completing his studies locally and graduating in 2020. After four years working in Brisbane and Adelaide, he returned to Cairns  in 2025 with his wife and their two children to focus on family and community care.
With experience across a variety of medical fields, Brendan is particularly passionate about men's health, family medicine, pediatric care, and a personal interest in migraine and headache management. Outside the clinic, he enjoys euro-style board games, cooking, and spending sunny days outside with his family.

Dr Louise Bourke completed her medical degree at Flinders University of South Australia in 2002, then general practice fellowship in 2016. Prior to this she did a Bachelor of Science with Honours degree at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin.
She moved to Cairns with her husband and 4 children in 2016 and has lived most of her life in Darwin. She is of Aboriginal descent. She enjoys the diversity of health care in general practice from infancy to aged care and in particular, chronic disease management and women's health.
Furthering this, she completed a FPAA National Certificate in Reproductive and Sexual Health and is able to insert intrauterine devices and the implanon. She can also offer iron infusions.
Outside of work, Louise enjoys exploring the outdoors and bike riding.

Dr Vivian Matthews completed his medical training at the University of Melbourne in 1993. He has been practicing in Cairns since 1998 and established the Kewarra Family Practice in 2006.

His areas of special interest included skin cancer checks and treatment, women's health and pregnancy care. He has also developed an interest in complex medical condition care.

Dr Thambyah completed his training in Sydney where he then worked in a university health service and aboriginal medical service. He holds a masters in public health and has an interest in general medicine and chronic disease management.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Dr Duffield completed her medical degree there and has been working in family medicine since 1985. After practicing in New Zealand for 17 years Dr Duffield moved the Beaches in 2002 and has been working at Trinity Family Practice since. Her medical interests include nutrition, addiction medicine, women's health and diabetes management. She now juggles working full time with her most important role as grandmother.