A globally known Australian GP is urging doctors to use their privilege as a “superpower” to call out racism and sexism in healthcare environments.

Former medical director of the UN, Dr Jillann Farmer, says doctors become privileged as soon they complete their medical degree and can take action where others can not.

She came to the realisation that doctors had “superpowers” during her eight years overseeing the standards of the UN’s healthcare facilities, heard the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) conference last week.

“You can’t change your past, you cannot change the colour of your skin, so you don’t have to feel bad about coming from a background of privilege,” Dr Farmer told the conference in Gladstone, Queensland, which was themed around power and privilege.