James Best has been a GP for almost 30 years, recently based on the South Coast.

In 2015, he and his 15 year old son Sam, who has autism, embarked on a six month backpacking journey around Africa, on a purposeful exposure to uncertainty and chaos in order to improve Sam’s life skills. This intervention was studied by Griffith University and was the subject of his book, Sam’s Best Shot: A Father and Son's Life-Changing Journey through Autism, Adolescence and Africa. The remarkable adventure was also featured on Australian Story in 2017. 

James Best has been a GP medical educator, training GP registrars for over 20 years, and is a past recipient of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ GP Supervisor of the Year. He has a specific interest in paediatrics, particularly paediatric disability, and is the Chair of the Child and Young Person Group, which includes 3000 GPs with a paediatric specific interest, within the RACGP.