Graeme Ratten was born in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1939.


He received his primary education at a State school and his secondary education at Carey Baptist Grammar School, then studied Medicine at Melbourne University graduating in 1963.


He commenced post-graduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne in 1966 and also gained experience in Port Moresby, Territory of Papua and New Guinea, and at West Middlesex Hospital, England.


Returning to Melbourne in 1970 he spent his professional life in Melbourne caring for public hospital patients at Royal Women's Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women, and for private patients.


Graeme has been married to Beverley for 58 years and has four children and ten grand-children.