Maddie was born and raised in Bundaberg. After completing her schooling, she moved to the Sunshine Coast where she completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She then moved to Brisbane where she completed a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science and a Master of Science by Research in Clinical and Molecular Microbiology at Griffith University. Her research focused on the development of a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus in intravascular catheter colonisation. 

Upon completion of her master’s research, Maddie relocated back to her hometown where she worked within the healthcare sector as an Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator. She then accepted a scholarship to undertake her PhD at the University of Queensland’s Rural Clinical School. Maddie’s current research focuses on improving access to healthcare services across increasing rurality.

Maddie currently works as a full-time lecturer at CQUniversity, teaching into Medical Science (Pathway to Medicine). She has interests in many clinical and non-clinical aspects of access to healthcare and is a keen advocate for consumers of healthcare in regional, rural, and remote communities.