Dr Craig Mattern
General Practitioner I Medical Supervisor I Major in Army | GP Trainer
MBBS (Western Sydney University) FRACGP, PGDipSEM - Postgraduate Diploma of Sport and Exercise Medicine (University of Otago) DAME - Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (CASA Medicals)
Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Veteran's Health – DVA, Mental health, Aviation Medicals - CASA Commercial and Private Pilots Licences, Occupational Medicals - Dive Medicals, RFDS etc
Dr Mattern graduated from UWS (now Western Sydney University) as part of the foundation cohort of the institution’s new medical school. He went on to join the Australian Army and completed his Fellowship in General Practice in Brisbane in 2016. He has subsequently earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports & Exercise Medicine through the University of Otago.
Currently a Major with more than 12 years of service in the Australian Army, Dr Mattern has also completed aviation medical training through the RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, as well as the Medical Officer Underwater Medicine Course through the Royal Australian Navy.
After graduating from UWS in 2011, Dr Mattern started out on a unique career path. Having enlisted in the Army’s long-term schooling scheme during my studies, he went on to complete his internship and residency at St George and Sutherland Hospitals before being posted to his first Army unit in Brisbane.
As a deployable Army doctor, he has spent several years supporting Army training all over the country, while pursuing his passion for sport as a representative of the Army in Interservice Rugby League. Dr Mattern also served as the men’s and women’s team doctor for both the Army and combined ADF rugby league teams.
His career has so far been “challenging but extremely rewarding”. Though he considers myself fortunate to have taken up posts all over the country during my service, he has also had to balance the pressures of continued Army training and intensive medical education throughout. He has gained invaluable experience, both in work and life, while also navigating his own mental health concerns along the way.
Since 2020, Dr Mattern has been working in health centres in Picton and at Holsworthy Barracks, where he continues to look after members of the public and the ADF alike. He is still keenly involved with the Army and ADF rugby league organisations and is now focused on providing trusted advice to the broader community as the founder of High Performance Medical.