For three decades, generations of families across Bathurst and Oberon have welcomed new babies into the world with Dr John Schibeci by their side. As he concludes 30 years of service as a GP obstetrician, it is fitting to reflect on a career distinguished by compassion, clinical excellence, and an unwavering commitment to rural healthcare.
John’s medical journey began at the University of New South Wales, where he graduated with his MBBS in 1980. Following his internship, residency, and medical registrar training at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, he developed a passion for obstetrics and general practice, completing obstetric and paediatric training before achieving his DRANZCOG qualification in 1985.
His career in rural medicine began in Oberon in 1986, where he established himself as a general practitioner while also serving as a visiting medical officer at Oberon District Hospital with obstetric privileges. It was here that John embraced the unique rewards and challenges of rural practice, caring for patients across every stage of life while delivering babies and supporting families through some of life’s most significant moments. In 1991, he became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, further cementing his commitment to excellence in general practice.
Following a short period in Singleton and a year working at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom, John returned home to begin what would become the defining chapter of his career. Since February 1996, he has practised at Busby Medical Practice while serving as a visiting medical officer at Bathurst Base Hospital, providing obstetric care to the region for the next 30 years.
Over that time, medicine has changed dramatically. Advances in technology, new models of care, evolving training pathways, and significant improvements in obstetric practice have transformed the way healthcare is delivered. Yet throughout every change, John has remained a reassuring constant. Patients have valued his calm, thoughtful approach, while colleagues have relied on his sound judgement, generosity, and willingness to share his knowledge.
Ask anyone who has worked alongside John, and they’ll tell you he has no shortage of stories. After more than four decades in medicine and 30 years delivering babies in regional hospitals, he has witnessed moments of joy, challenge, humour, and humanity that few careers can offer. Those stories are more than entertaining recollections – they are reminders of a life spent at the heart of community medicine, where every day brings something unexpected and every patient encounter matters.
John’s influence has extended well beyond his own practice. He has contributed generously to the wider obstetric profession through his work with RANZCOG and its publications, helping to educate, connect and inspire fellow obstetricians – including through his role as Editor of O&G Magazine between 2016 and 2021. Between 2004 and 2021 he also served on the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Medical Advisory Group, including approximately five years as Chair, where his thoughtful leadership helped shape maternity services and support clinical excellence throughout the region.
His commitment to lifelong learning has remained a hallmark of his career. Alongside his extensive work in general practice and obstetrics, he completed a Diploma of Practical Dermatology through Cardiff University in 2000, reflecting the broad scope of his interests and his enduring dedication to providing the best possible care for his patients.
While June 2026 marked the conclusion of John’s work as a GP obstetrician, it does not mark the end of his service to the community. Fortunately for the people of Bathurst, he continues to care for patients as a local general practitioner, bringing with him the wisdom, experience, and kindness that have defined his career.
Thirty years is an extraordinary milestone in any profession. In rural medicine, where continuity of care and enduring relationships are so highly valued, it is especially significant. John’s career has touched thousands of lives – not only through the babies he has helped deliver, but through the confidence he has inspired, the colleagues he has mentored, and the communities he has faithfully served.
As this chapter closes, we celebrate a doctor whose contribution has been measured not only in years of service, but in lives cared for, families supported, and a community made stronger through his dedication. We thank John for his remarkable contribution to rural maternity care and general practice and wish him every happiness and continued success in the years ahead.
