Proudly family-owned and operated, Team Medical Supplies has become one of the top distributors of medical consumables, equipment, and vaccines across Australia, trusted to put its customers first. We speak to members of the management team about its intimate origins and grand plans for a sustainable and healthy future.
SOLUTIONS FOR A HEALTHIER WORLD
The healthcare industry has an undeniable reputation for constant innovation, emerging technologies, and game-changing advancement.
These occur at the speed of light, so keeping up-to-date with all of these changes can be overwhelming, even at the best of times.
It takes a carefully crafted combination of resilience, teamwork, and industry passion to be a leader and make a difference in such a monumental field.
This is where Team Medical Supplies (Team Medical) shines. With a purpose to create solutions for a healthier world, the company was founded on the building blocks of familial intimacy, ambition, and the desire to contribute to a more accessible and healthy future for the Australian public and beyond.
“We started the business with little more than a shared vision: to transform the distribution of healthcare products in Australia,” introduces Ray Brown, co-Founder and Head of Strategic Partnerships.
“It wasn’t easy – there were plenty of tears and fears – but through it all, we supported one another and built a team with the same passion and determination.”
This sentiment motivates Team Medical to continue its focus on providing premium service and quality products on a daily basis.
Established in 2011 by Marijke Vriens with a team of 10, the company quickly grew and found success whilst maintaining the origins that still define its culture today.
“Team Medical started out as a family, and we still are one – just bigger,” prides Kelly Zillman, Head of HR and Accounts.
Specialists in supplying the primary healthcare market, the company proudly works with over 10,000 customers throughout Australia, including all-sized general practitioner (GP) clinics, healthcare groups, dermatologists, cardiologists, day surgeries, hospitals, and many more.
With an extensive product range that offers diagnostic equipment, wound care, surgical instruments, furniture, fittings, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines, Team Medical has made a name for itself as one of the most trusted distributors of medical supplies in the country.
“Compared to our competitors, we’re all about service and helping customers get what they need, when they need it, in a quick, competitive, and efficient manner so they can focus on what matters – their patients,” dictates Tom Vriens, General Manager.
“We’re all about service and helping customers get what they need, when they need it, in a quick, competitive, and efficient manner”
Tom Vriens, General Manager, Team Medical Supplies
AN UNSTOPPABLE FAMILY DYNAMIC
Some of the most important aspects of Team Medical that have been a part of the organisation since its inception are its team synergy, family-oriented culture, and collective purpose to create solutions for a healthier world. This is backed by Team Medical’s five values, ‘We Make it Happen, Quality, Fun, Everyone Matters, and Social Impact’, which help guide and drive everyday decisions.
“A culture of resilience, camaraderie, and humour remains the foundation of Team Medical today. It’s what drives us to aim higher, achieve new goals, and support one another,” prides Ray.
“Beyond the hard work, there’s always room for laughter – that’s what makes us get up every morning, ready to succeed together.”
This unique identity allows the company to not only support each other towards success but also create a sense of ownership for each team member that is reflected in even greater performance.
Equally, Team Medical’s family dynamic enables trust, quick decision-making, and flexibility. Specifically, the ability to be nimble has played a significant role in the company’s success as it can react rapidly to market changes and take immediate action to pivot in the right direction.
“The culture and people within Team Medical help drive a high-quality service that is maintained by every staff member in each department,” informs Matt Vriens, co-Founder and Procurement Director.
The company further differentiates itself through its unwavering commitment to customers and desire to exceed industry standards at every level.
“Our values define us, and our team is dedicated to ‘making it happen’ for our customers every step of the way. Our passion for what we do ultimately drives our success,” insights Jake Reid, Head of Operations.
At the end of the day, Team Medical’s people serve as the primary foundation of the company, truly differentiating it and maintaining the family feel despite 14 years of growth.
WORKING TOWARDS A HEALTHIER WORLD
Within the medical industry, there is currently a lot of excitement surrounding the constant innovation of new drugs and devices, particularly telemedicine, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainability initiatives.
Team Medical is addressing these updates alongside others to ensure it continues to make a global impact by creating solutions for a healthier world.
“We’re always looking for new and innovative technologies to improve what we can do for our customers,” details Pieter Vriens, CEO.
“Specifically, from a technology perspective, we are exploring AI through our customer service and how that may play a role in improving outcomes.”
Equally as important are Team Medical’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, which serve as a way to further its values.
“I believe we all have a duty to care for the planet and those around us. Our purpose means we are actively making decisions that support healthy people and a healthy planet,” expands Kelly.
Currently, the company is in the process of doubling the solar panel output on its biggest facility in Sydney, with the intent to have 75 percent of all its electricity come from renewable sources this year.
Additionally, with Australia being a significant distributor of vaccines nationally, Team Medical was one of the first medical wholesalers to use cold chain trucks to deliver vaccines as opposed to the traditional method of portable polystyrene ice boxes.
Delivering 78 percent of its vaccine orders via specialist cold chain couriers, Team Medical has saved well over 768 cubic metres (cbm) of polystyrene annually – approximately four school swimming pools worth of the non-biodegradable plastic.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to make a difference for the future and create solutions for a healthier world. The more efficient we become as an organisation, the more we can continue to focus on that,” passions Pieter.
“In such a competitive market, our team stands out because of their genuine belief in what we do and their caring nature. This spirit flows from the CEO all the way to the staff who pick and pack our orders”
Ray Brown, co-Founder and Head of Strategic Partnerships, Team Medical Supplies
MEANINGFUL IMPACT
Alongside Team Medicals’ well-earned reputation for delivering premium services, offering quality products, and putting customer needs at the forefront of its daily operations, the company is also dedicated to making a significant global impact.
Notably, the company has partnered with B1G1, an organisation on a mission to empower every business to become a real force for good.
“At Team Medical, we believe that businesses have a responsibility beyond profits. As a B1G1 ‘Business for Good’, we’ve been able to create meaningful impacts that reflect our values and commitment to making a difference,” details Ray.
This desire to make a difference in the wider community and environment has manifested in the company being able to access a number of foundations globally.
The various causes are selected by Team Medical employees, and, on their work anniversaries, staff are gifted an amount to donate to a project of their choice that increases each year.
“Giving team members a choice on what projects they can donate to plays a role in empowering them and expanding their understanding of how we can make a difference not just in Australia but around the world,” insights Tim Burgess, National Sales Manager.
Within the sales team, a B1G1 initiative based on four projects was conducted over the course of six months. This allowed team members to give to worthy causes whilst also encouraging them to keep up-to-date on these projects and buy into the programmes both as a team and individuals.
“Through our partnership with B1G1, we are able to provide essential services such as medical care, medicines, education, and clean drinking water to those in need,” furthers Jake.
Additionally, TMS offers a day of clean water for every dose of its flu vaccine sold and has single-handedly built multiple wells in Africa to support drinking water for small communities, showcasing what its people are able to accomplish when purpose is aligned with action.
Ultimately, as the company continues to look towards continued success and expansion, it seeks to maintain its unique and intimate culture whilst offering customers high-quality, affordable medical products and educational resources that enhance global well-being.
“Our purpose is about every part of our business and how it can create solutions for a healthier world,” Matt proudly concludes.
TEAM MEDICAL SUPPLIES PARTNER
