The list includes one AC, nine AOs, 38 AMs, 32 OAMs, four military honours, and 14 of the best public servants in the land.
A total of 98 health and medical luminaries have been awarded King’s Birthday Honours, led by renowned SIDS researcher and forensic pathologist Emeritus Professor Roger Byard.
Professor Byard was the only person in the sector to be given the nation’s highest honour, Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), for “eminent service to medicine, to forensic pathology, to tertiary education as an academic and researcher, and to the community”.
- For more on Professor Byard, click here
The King’s Birthday 2025 Honours List recognises Australians with awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.
This year there a total of 830 honourees – an increase of awardees of almost 30% since the Australia Day 2025 List.
The list includes people recommended to Governor-General Sam Mostyn by the Council of the Order of Australia and organisations responsible for recommending meritorious, gallantry, distinguished and conspicuous honours.
Recipients will attend investiture ceremonies at the Government House in their respective state or territory in coming months to receive the insignia of their award.
Nine health and medical figures were made Officers of the Order of Australia (AO). Another 38 were made Members of the Order of Australia, while 32 were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM) and four received military honours.
An elite squad of 14 were awarded Public Service Medals.
Professor Skye McDonald, who was made AO “for distinguished service to clinical neuropsychology, and to research into social cognition disorders after traumatic brain injury”, said the award was “astonishing”.
“First of all, I’ve got to track down who nominated me, because I’m amazed. It’s astonishing. I feel very, very privileged,” she told HSD.
“What I’m doing is discovering how the brain impacts on people’s ability to get on with each other, their social skills. We know a lot about how the brain affects people’s ability to learn and forget and solve problems, but no one much has really looked at these social skills. And for a lot of people who’ve had a stroke or a brain injury from a car accident, for example, it’s those social skills where they don’t get on with other people anymore, which is devastating for themselves and their family and the broader community they live in.”
Professor Christine Bigby, whose AO came for “distinguished service to people with intellectual disabilities, to social welfare and inclusion research, policy and practice, and to tertiary education”, the joy of the honour was in the “recognition of the importance of good research”.
“And the difference you know that that can make if you if you try and get it translated into practice, which is what I’ve been doing for the last 20 odd years,” she told HSD.
- Read more about Professor Bigby and her work here
Professor Kate Curtis, whose AO was given “for distinguished service to trauma and emergency nursing, to critical care research, to tertiary education, and to professional organisations”, felt “a bit awkward”.
“Everything I’ve done is a big team effort,” she told HSD. “I’m really pleased that nursing is being recognised, given that patient safety is just totally contingent on good quality nursing assessment and care, and everything we do is about the patient.”
- Read more about Professor Curtis and her work here
Professor Richard Prince told HSD that he had “never considered that my service to my country was anything notable”.
Cited for “distinguished service to endocrinology as a researcher and clinical physician, to tertiary education, and to professional societies”, Professor Prince said he was surprised and grateful to be nominated.
“The most important message for the community is that working for the benefit of individuals and groups has its own rewards,” he said.
- Read more about Professor Prince and his work here
“Delighted and humbled,” said Professor Jodie McVernon on being awarded an AO “for distinguished service to medical research, in the field of epidemiology and infection prevention, to tertiary education, and to public health”.
“You do your job at the end of the day and so it’s nice when that’s recognised,” she told HSD.
“Obviously it’s not just my work, it was the work of a whole team that’s being recognised here. I’m excited to acknowledge all of them.”
- Read more about Professor McVernon and her work here
Associate Professor Graham Newstead, whose AO adds to his AM, the best thing about the news was knowing it bring further awareness to Bowel Cancer Australia.
Cited for “distinguished service to colorectal surgical medicine and training, to bowel cancer awareness, education and prevention, and to professional societies”, Professor Newstead told HSD that he was “very excited”.
“It gives us publicity, he said. “And that might, in itself, save yet another life, because somebody actually does the test.”
- Read more about Professor Newstead and his work here
Georgie Harman, CEO of Beyond Blue, was given an AO “for distinguished service to the mental health sector, to the LBGTQIA+ community, and to not-for-profit organisations”. She said it was “really overwhelming” to be honoured.
“I was just a knockabout kid and sometimes I wonder how I got here,” she told HSD.
“This is extraordinary recognition of the work I’ve been able to do through the help of others.”
Ms Harman’s main focus is stopping people from delaying help-seeking.
“We know from the latest data that people are delaying finding help at an extraordinary rate,” she said. “About half are waiting until they are really sick.
“It doesn’t need to be this way. People need to know that they don’t have to be really sick to get help.”
Professor Gita Mishra was still recovering from being on the organising committee of the recent 16th World Congress on Endometriosis held in Sydney at the end of May when HSD contacted her.
Professor Mishra was appointed AO for “distinguished service to medical research, particularly life course epidemiology and women’s health, to leadership, and to tertiary education”.
“I am very honoured and very touched,” she said.
“It puts a spring in your step. I have quite a few years to go in my career and this is reinforcement that what you’re doing is important.”
Professor Mishra was the first post doc who worked on the landmark longitudinal Australian Study of Women’s Health, under her mentor Professor Annette Dobson.
“She trusted me to become director of that study after her in 2014, and I thank her for her belief and trust in me,” she said.
Dr Michael Repacholi, was awarded an AO “for distinguished service to medical research as a radiation protection physicist, to environmental health, and to professional medical societies”.
Dr Repacholi is currently overseas and couldn’t be reached for comment.
Full list of health and medical honourees:
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
Emeritus Professor Roger Byard AO PSM: For eminent service to medicine, to forensic pathology, to tertiary education as an academic and researcher, and to the community.
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
Professor Christine Bigby: For distinguished service to people with intellectual disabilities, to social welfare and inclusion research, policy and practice, and to tertiary education.
Professor Kate Curtis: For distinguished service to trauma and emergency nursing, to critical care research, to tertiary education, and to professional organisations.
Ms Georgina Harman: For distinguished service to the mental health sector, to the LBGTQIA+ community, and to not-for-profit organisations.
Professor Skye McDonald: For distinguished service to clinical neuropsychology, and to research into social cognition disorders after traumatic brain injury.
Professor Jodie McVernon: For distinguished service to medical research, in the field of epidemiology and infection prevention, to tertiary education, and to public health.
Professor Gita Mishra: For distinguished service to medical research, particularly life course epidemiology and women’s health, to leadership, and to tertiary education.
Associate Professor Graham Newstead AM: For distinguished service to colorectal surgical medicine and training, to bowel cancer awareness, education and prevention, and to professional societies.
Professor Richard Prince: For distinguished service to endocrinology as a researcher and clinical physician, to tertiary education, and to professional societies.
Dr Michael Repacholi: For distinguished service to medical research as a radiation protection physicist, to environmental health, and to professional medical societies.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Professor Michael Abramson: For significant service to medicine as a respiratory physician, and as a researcher.
Professor Lisa Amir: For significant service to women’s health, particularly breastfeeding research and support.
Distinguished Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos: For significant service to medical research, particularly immunology.
Dr Charles Corke: For significant service to intensive care medicine as a clinician, administrator and researcher.
Mr Robert George: For significant service to medicine as a diagnostic radiographer.
Mrs Lusia Guthrie: For significant service to the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors.
Dr John Healy: For significant service to medicine as a practitioner and researcher.
Professor Michael Henderson: For significant service to community health, to education, and to the community.
Mrs Elaine Henry OAM: For significant service to youth and children, to breast cancer research and screening, and to board governance roles.
Emeritus Professor Peter Howat: For significant service to public health education and promotion, and to the community.
Associate Professor Graeme Hughes: For significant service to medicine in the field of fertility.
Dr Catherine Hutton: For significant service to general practice medicine, and to health care system improvement.
The late Adjunct Professor Murray Johns: For significant service to sleep medicine and research.
Ms Catherine Johnson: For significant service to oncology nursing and research.
Professor Timothy Jones: For significant service to medical research, particularly to paediatric endocrinology and diabetes.
Associate Professor Emma Kennedy: For significant service to medical education, and to the community.
The late Dr Sajeev Koshy OAM: For significant service to dentistry, particularly through board and leadership roles.
Dr David Law: For significant service to public health as a practitioner and in leadership roles.
Professor Raymond Lovett: For significant service to Indigenous health and research as an epidemiologist.
Associate Professor Maria McCarthy: For significant service to paediatric psycho-oncology research and education.
Dr Glenn McCulloch: For significant service to neurosurgical practice, research and education.
Ms Debra O’Connor: For significant service to aged health in leadership roles, and to the community.
Mr Alan Oppenheim: For significant service to the skin healthcare industry.
Emeritus Professor Warren Payne: For significant service to sport and health medical research, and to the community.
Professor Michael Poulsen: For significant service to radiation oncology as a practitioner and researcher.
Mr Graeme Prior: For significant service to the aged care sector, and to Alzheimer’s disease research.
Mrs Cheryl Rae: For significant service to medicine as a dietitian.
Professor Britta Regli-Baronin Ungern-Sternberg von Purkel: For significant service to medicine as a paediatric anaesthetist and researcher.
Dr Peter Rischbieth: For significant service to rural health as a medical practitioner.
Dr Gwenneth Roberts: For significant service to the Anglican Church of Australia, and to social justice.
Professor Alistair Royse: For significant service to medicine as a cardiothoracic surgeon, researcher, educator, and trainer.
Professor David Scott: For significant service to anaesthesia and pain medicine.
Dr Michael Steiner: For significant service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology as a surgeon, and to professional associations.
Professor Nickolai Titov: For significant service to digital mental health and wellness, and to tertiary education.
Ms Marita Walker: For significant service to people with disability, and to aged care.
Mr Andrew Warden: For significant service to cancer health and research, and to the community.
Professor David Wiesenfeld: For significant service to medicine as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Mr David Zerman: For significant service to community organisations, to health, and to philanthropic initiatives.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Mr Gary Allsop: For service to people with spinal cord injury and other disabilities.
Mr Silas Banks: For service to the pharmacy profession.
Conjoint Associate Professor Mark Bloch: For service to medicine.
Dr Stephen Bolsin: For service to medicine as an anaesthetist.
Dr Edward Chapman: For service to medicine in otorhinolaryngology.
Dr Rosalie Cooper: For service to medicine through a range of roles.
Dr Colin Crighton: For service to the community of Port Macquarie.
The late Dr John Dyson-Berry: For service to medicine as a general practitioner.
Dr Mandy Evans: For service to medicine in the field of psychiatry.
Professor Gerald Fogarty: For service to medical research.
Mrs Erika Gleeson: For service to the disability industry.
Dr Toni Hains: For service to nursing.
Dr Lorna Heaslop: For service to medicine, and to the community.
Mr Jeremy Heathcote: For service to Indigenous community health.
Dr David Iser: For service to medicine as a general practitioner.
Dr Carolyn Lawlor-Smith: For service to medicine, and to community health.
Associate Professor Jeffrey Lefkovits: For service to medicine as a cardiologist.
Dr Gregory Levenston: For service to the community of Woollahra.
Ms Jennifer Messell: For service to nursing.
Dr Margaret Niemann: For service to medicine as a general practitioner.
Dr Lewis Perrin: For service to gynaecological oncology.
Ms Heather Pickard: For service to nursing, and to midwifery.
Mrs Valma Pink: For service to nursing.
Associate Professor David Rimmer: For service to rural and remote medicine.
Dr Alan Secombe: For service to the community as a General Practitioner.
The late Dr Allan Shell: For service to the Jewish community, and to healthcare.
Ms Anne Shipp: For service to nursing.
Dr John Vinen: For service to emergency medicine.
Dr Karin Walduck: For service to community hockey.
Dr David Walkom: For service to the communities of Manning Valley and Great Lakes.
Captain David West: For service to mental health nursing.
Professor Marie Bee Hui Yap: For service to psychology.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Military Division
Australian Army:
Major Dianne Hutchinson: For meritorious performance of duty as the Nursing Officer and Mentor to the Australian Defence Force Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills Program.
Warrant Officer Class One Craig Murray: For meritorious service as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd General Health Battalion, 2nd Health Battalion, and 10th Force Support Battalion.
Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)
Australian Army:
Major Julie Doherty: For meritorious achievement in blood preparedness and clinical leadership as the Senior Medical Officer of the 2nd Health Battalion.
Corporal Meghan Manuzic: For meritorious achievement in non-warlike operations as the Medical Technician whilst deployed to the Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines from April 2024 to June 2024.
Public Service Medal (PSM)
Federal:
Ms Robin Edmonds: For outstanding public service for the co-founding of the Australian Public Sector Neurodiversity Community of Practice.
Dr Bridget Gilmour-Walsh: For outstanding public service in the development of new legislative regulation on vapes.
Mr Andrew Pfeiffer: For outstanding public service for the co-founding of the Australian Public Sector Neurodiversity Community of Practice.
Mrs Michelle Ricks: For outstanding public service in leadership and delivering complex information and communication technology solutions in the delivery of Medicare services.
New South Wales:
Dr Srinivas Bolisetty: For outstanding public service to NSW health particularly in neonatal services.
Mr Wayne Jones: For outstanding public service to NSW Health particularly to emergency and disaster management.
Ms Anne O’Neill: For outstanding public service to NSW in the area of medical research and innovation.
Mr Natale Cutri: For outstanding public service in leadership and advocacy for people with disability.
Victoria:
Ms Peta McCammon: For outstanding public service in reforms in disability services and family violence prevention.
Queensland:
Associate Professor Carol Douglas: For outstanding public service in palliative medicine.
Mr Andrew John Spina: For outstanding public service to innovation in digital and service delivery in Queensland.
South Australia:
Dr Paul Dignam: For outstanding public service in SA Health as a consultant psychiatrist.
Dr Lawrence Palmer: For outstanding public service in Palliative Medicine.
Associate Professor Catherine Swetenham: For outstanding public service in end-of-life care.
We try our best to identify every health and medical figure receiving a King’s Birthday award. Sometimes we miss a couple – email cate@healthservicesdaily.com.au to notify us of anyone who has been overlooked.