Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I would like to recognise the valuable contribution made by Dr Peter Sharp to improving health services for the Indigenous community in the ACT and region. Peter is the medical director of the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service, which was established in 1988 to provide a culturally safe and holistic health service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the ACT and the region. He is also Winnunga's longest serving staff member.

Peter started work at Winnunga in 1989 while working at Campbelltown Hospital. He would travel down every weekend to run the clinic and to do home visits. He also volunteered as team doctor for local junior rugby league team the Bogong Warriors. In March 2000 Dr Sharp, together with Winnunga CEO Julie Tongs, established a medical outreach program to the Belconnen Remand Centre and, in July that year, Goulburn prison. Peter now runs clinics at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, Cooma and Goulburn prisons and Narrabundah Primary School. Peter also works tirelessly helping people affected by alcohol and substance abuse and trains other medical professionals in Indigenous health. Through his work with the Indigenous community, he has a great understanding of the complex health, social, emotional and cultural needs of his patients. He is well regarded.

I pay this tribute today because Dr Peter Sharp is battling cancer at the moment. He is now working part time at Winnunga from a wheelchair, but he is still strongly committed to providing quality health services to the community there. (Time expired)