News

ACHSM would like to congratulate the following recipients of Australia Day Honours 2023. Please join us in saluting the high-achievers below who play a significant role in health service delivery and were recognised in this week’s announcement by the Governor-General of Australia.

To view the full list of recipients, visit https://www.gg.gov.au/australia-day-2023-honours-list.

 

MEMBERS

Emeritus Professor Stephen John DUCKETT, Melbourne VIC 3000

Life Member and Fellow

For significant service to public health policy and management, and to tertiary education.

Dr Sally Jean TORR, Bourke NSW 2840

Former ACHSM President 2006 – 2008, Life Member and Fellow

For significant service to healthcare administration, and to the community of western New South Wales.

NON-MEMBERS

Dr Sonya Maree BENNETT, ACT

CE Southern NSW LHD since 2020. Prevoiusly CEO, Northeast Health, Wangaratta, Vic

For significant service to public health in leadership roles.

Ms Susan PEARCE, NSW

Secretary, NSW Health, since 2022.

For significant service to public health administration and governance.

Dr Norman Gabriel SWAN, NSW

For significant service to the broadcast media as a science and health commentator.

Ms Deborah Lee WILLCOX, Bardwell Park NSW 2207

Deputy Secretary, NSW Health since 2022

For significant service to health administration, and to the community.

COVID-19 Honour Roll

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Ms Susan PEARCE

Dr Norman Gabriel SWAN

Detailed listings

MEMBERS

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Emeritus Professor Stephen John DUCKETT, Melbourne VIC 3000
For significant service to public health policy and management, and to tertiary education.

Health

• Chair, Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network, since 2018.
• Chair, Health Performance Council of South Australia, since 2021, and Member, since

2012.

• Member, several working parties and advisory committees, Independent Hospital

Pricing Authority, 2012-2021.

• Director, Health Program, Grattan Institute, 2012-2022.
• Board Member and Deputy Chair, Northern Melbourne Medicare Local, 2012-2015.
• Member, National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, 2008-2009.
• Chair (part-time), Board of Directors, Bayside Health, 2000-2009.
• President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Health Services, 2009-2010.

La Trobe University

• Emeritus Professor of Health Policy, since 2014.
• Professor of Health Policy, 2012-2014.
• Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), 2004-2005.
• Professor of Health Policy, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, and Pro Vice-

Chancellor, 1996-2006, and 1993.

Education - Other

• Council Member, RMIT University, since 2014.
• Professor of Public Health, University of Alberta, 2010-2012.
• Auditor, Australian Universities Quality Agency, 2001-2005.
• Convenor, Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences, 1999-2005.
• Chair, Australian Selection Committee, Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy,

2000-2009, and Member, 1997-2009.

• Academic, School of Health Administration, University of New South Wales, 1974-

1983.

Victorian Department of Health and Community Services

• Director, Acute Health Services, 1992-1993.
• Director, Policy and Planning, 1991-1992.
• Regional Director, Western Metropolitan Region, 1989-1991, and Deputy Regional

Director, 1986-1989.

• Acting Director, Planning, 1984-1986, and Deputy Director, 1983-1984.

Australian Government

• Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health, 1994-1996.
• Chair, Victorian Review of Governance of safety and quality of patient care, 2016.
• Member, Victorian Ministerial Taskforce on Cancer Services, 2003-2005.
• Chair, Victorian Ministerial Review on Health Care Networks, 1999-2000.
• Chief Executive, Centre for Healthcare Improvement, Queensland Health, 2006-2009.
• Chair, Acute Health Quality Committee, Victorian Department of Human Services and Health, 1997-1999.

National Health and Medical Research Council

• Committee Member, 2006-2008.
• Chief Investigator, two funded research grants, since 2000.

Professional Associations

• Council Member, Australian Healthcare Association, 2002-2005.
• Member, Australian Hospital Statistics Advisory Committee, Australian Institute of

Health and Welfare, 1999-2005.

Brotherhood of St Laurence

• Chair, 2000-2005.
• Board Director, since 2018, and 1996-2005.
• Chair, Board Quality and Care Governance Committee, since 2019.
• Life Member.

Awards and Recognition include:

• Fellow, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, 2004.
• Sidney Sax Medal, Australian Healthcare Association, 2003.
• Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, 2003.
• Fellow, Australian Institute of Company Directors.
• Centenary Medal, 2001.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Dr Sally Jean TORR, Bourke NSW 2840

For significant service to healthcare administration, and to the community of western New South Wales.

Community Health

• Patient Care and Services Manager, Bourke Health Service, Western New South Wales Local Health District, 2006-2015.
• Associate Director, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales, 1998-2005.
• Deputy General Manager, Community Health, Eastern Sydney Area Health Service, NSW, 1989-1997.
• Manager, Health Service Development Unit, Eastern Sydney Area Health Service, NSW, 1988-1989.
• Regional Director, Health and Community Services, Katherine, Northern Territory, 1986-1989.
• Executive Officer, Australian Medial Association/The Australian Council on Healthcare Standard, Peer Review Resource Centre, 1981-1986.
• Senior Relieving Executive Officer, Prince Henry/Prince of Wales and Eastern Suburbs Hospitals, New South Wales, 1976-1981.
• Various nursing/training positions, 1960s-1970s.

Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM)

• President, 2006-2008.
• Councillor, 1998-2005.
• President, New South Wales, 2003-2004.
• Councillor, New South Wales,1994-2002.
• Examiner, Fellowship Program, 2004-2008.
• Fellow, since 1989.
• Life Membership, since 2012.
• Member, since 1974.
• Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, since

2006.

• Member, Aboriginal Management Training Steering Committee, ACHSM New South

Wales and Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council, New South Wales, 1998- 2002.

Healthcare - Other

• Member, Community Advisory Council, Western New South Wales Primary Health Network, since 2015.
• Member, Human Interagency Committee, Bourke Council, 2010-2015.
• President , Australian Association for Quality in Health Care, 1992-1995.
• Member, New South Wales Health Minister's Clinical Quality Advisory Committee,

1990s.

Country Women's Association of NSW

• Executive Committee Member, prior to 2020.
• President, Far Western Group, since 2019, past International Officer.

• Member, Bourke Branch, Country Women's Association of New South Wales, since 2007, President, six years.
• Secretary, Bourke Arts Community Inc, since 2006.
• Board Member, Outback Arts, Regional Arts NSW, since 2016.
• Member, Bourke Rotary, since 2011.
• Leader, Leichhardt Scout Group, 1989-2006.
• Member, Coordinator, Christian Dance Fellowship/Foundation, since 1980.

Awards and Recognition include:

• Inductee, Hidden Treasures Honour Roll, Department of Primary Industries, 2020.
• People Choice Award, Western NSW Local Health District, 2012.
• Gold Medal Award, ACHSM, 2009.
• Baxter Community Engagement Award, New South Wales Health, 2002.
• Best Practice Award, Department of Health, 1999.
• Northern T erritory Government Award, 1988.
• Bicentennial Management Award, New South Wales Premier's Department, 1988.

NON-MEMBERS

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Dr Sonya Maree BENNETT, ACT

For significant service to public health in leadership roles.

Commonwealth Department of Health

• Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Australia, since 2021.
• Member, Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, since 2019.

Queensland Health

• Deputy Chief Health Officer, 2020-2021.
• Executive Director, Communicable Diseases Branch, 2013-2021.
• Public Health Physician/Director, Metro North Public Health Unit, 2009-2013.

Communicable Disease Network of Australia

• Chair, 2019-2021.
• Member, 2013-2021.
• Member, Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, 2015-2019.

Centre for Military and Veterans' Health, University of Queensland

• Chief of Operations, Conjoint Associate Professor, 2008-2009.
• Research Manager, Conjoint Senior Lecturer, 2004-2007.

Medical - Other

• Council Member, QIMR Berghofer, since 2019.
• Fellow Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
• Fellow Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
• Medical Practitioner, since 1991.

Royal Australian Navy

• Commodore Royal Australian Navy.
• Director-General Navy Health Reserves, since 2019.
• Royal Australian Navy Reservist, since 2009.
• Royal Australian Navy Medical Officer, 1994-2009.

Awards and Recognition include:

• President's Extraordinary Award, Queensland, Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, 2020.
• Publlic Health Association of Australia President's Award 'For outstanding contribution to the betterment and protection of public health in Australia', Conferred on the Australian Health Protection Principals Committee, 2020.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Ms Susan PEARCE, NSW

For significant service to public health administration and governance.

NSW Health

• Secretary, since 2022.
• Deputy Secretary, Patient System and Performance, 2015-2022.
• Leader, Covid-19 State Emergency Operations Centre Health Response.
• Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, 2012-2015.

Medical - Other

• Member, Covid-19 NSW Crisis Cabinet, since 2020.
• Director Operations, Northern Sydney Local Health District, 2011-2012.
• Executive Director, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, 2009-2011.
• Nursing Officer, Broken Hill Base Hospital, 10 years.

New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association

• Manager, Member Organising Team, 2007-2009.
• Manager, Strategic Workplace Organising Team, 2006-2007.
• Member, 1991-2015.
• President, Broken Hill Base Hospital Branch, 2000-2001, Assistant Secretary, 1999-

2000 and Delegate, 1999-2001.

• President, Appointed Officers Branch, 2006-2007 and Assistant Secretary, 2002-

2004.

Professional Organisations - Other

• Councillor, NSW Nurses' Association Council, 1999-2001.
• Councillor, NSW Branch, Australian Nursing Federation, 1999-2001.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Dr Norman Gabriel SWAN, NSW

For significant service to the broadcast media as a science and health commentator.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Radio National

• Broadcaster and Journalist, Science and Health, since 1982.
• Producer and Presenter, The Health Report, current.
• Co-Host, Coronacast Podcast, since 2020.
• General Manager, Radio National 1990-1993.
• Former Co-Host, Life Matters.
• Occasional host, RN Breakfast, Late Night Live, Saturday Extra.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Television

• Broadcaster and Journalist, Science and Health, since 1982.
• Health Reporter, 7:30 Report, current.
• Guest reporter, Four Corners, current.
• Commentator and analyst, ABC News, current.
• Presenter, Invisible Wars.
• Occasional host, The Virus.
• Co-Writer and Narrator, The Opposite Sex.

Broadcasting and Publications - Other

• Former Editor, Choice Health Reader.
• Co-Founder and Board Member, Tonic Media Network, since 2012.
• Former Columnist, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
• Former Correspondent, the British Medical Journal, and the Journal of the American

Medical Association.

• Medical Host, The Biggest Loser, Channel Ten, six seasons.
• Writer and presenter, Invisible Enemies, Channel 4 (United Kingdom) and SBS, 1990.

Health - Other

• Board Member, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, since 2005.
• Deputy Director, Melbourne Festival of Ideas, 2012-2013.
• Rapporteur, Research priority committee, World Health Organisation and the World

Bank, early 1990s.

• Co-Chair, Global Health Minister's Meeting, West Africa, 2009.
• Former Ambassador, Avner Foundation, (now Australian Pancreatic Cancer

Foundation - PanKind).

Medicine

• Fellow, Royal College of Physicians (Glasgow), 2004.
• Member, Royal College of Physicians (United Kingdom), 1980.
• Founding Member, Social Issues Committee, Royal Australasian College of

Physicians.

• Co-Winner, Barry Williams Award for Skeptical Journalism, Australian Skeptics, 2020.
• Gold Citation, Media Peace Awards, United Nations Association of Australia.
• Michael Daly Award for Science Journalism (twice), Australian Government.
• Gold Walkley, 1988, and three Walkley Awards.
• Honorary Doctor of Medicine, The University of Sydney, 2006.
• Academy Medal, Australian Academy of Science, 2004.
• Inaugural National Press Club Award for Medical Broadcasting, 2003.
• Media Awards, Colleges of Ophthalmology and General Practice.
• Australian Radio Producer of the Year, 1984.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Ms Deborah Lee WILLCOX, Bardwell Park NSW 2207

For significant service to health administration, and to the community.

New South Wales Ministry of Health

• Deputy Secretary, New South Wales Health, since 2022.
• Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District, since 2017.
• Member, Executive Council, eHealth, since 2020.
• Director Operations, Sydney Local Health District, 2015-2017.
• Acting Director Operations, Sydney Local Health District, 2013-2015.
• General Manager, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 2013-2015.
• Acting Director Policy and Coordination Unit, Director General, New South Wales

Health, 2011-2012.

• Director Corporate Support, Health Reform Transition Office, New South Wales

Health, 2011.

• Director of Executive and Ministerial Services, New South Wales Health, 2007-2011.

Boards and Appointments

• Board Member, NORTH Foundation, since 2019.
• Member, Advisory Board, Australian Institute of Health Service Management, since

2017.

• Board Member, HealthShare NSW, since 2018.
• Board Member, Kolling Institute, since 2018.
• Trustee, Psychosis Australia Trust, 2012-2013.
• Chair, HOME Hospice, 2005-2008.
• Board Director, Assistance Dogs Australia, 2001-2007.

Law Society of New South Wales

• Councillor, 2006-2012.
• Chair, Human Rights Committee, 2006-2013.
• Member, Government Lawyers Committee, 2010-2012.
• Member, Corporate Law Committee, 2007-2009.

Schizophrenia Research Institute (formerly Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders)

• Non-Executive Board Member, 2004-2007.
• Executive Director, 2004-2007.

Other

• Head, Office of the Chief Executive, Australian Rugby Union, 2007.
• Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Premier, Minister for Planning, Minister for

Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Housing, 1999-2003.

• Visiting Lecturer, University of Notre Dame, 2009.