Dr Peter Sharp AM, or ‘Dr Pete’ as he was usually known, commenced providing medical services to the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in 1989, as Medical Officer at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service.  Since that time his roles at Winnunga Nimmityjah expanded and he made invaluable contributions to the development of Winnunga Nimmityjah’s services, and through doing so to the health of Indigenous people in the ACT and region, as well as to the inmates of correctional centres in the ACT region.

His work emphasised the holistic approach to health care that is a hallmark of Winnunga Nimmityjah, with his contributions as a Medical Officer interrelated seamlessly with the Service’s other health programs, and emphasising a whole of life focus in relation to Aboriginal health. Two areas of particular concern to Dr Pete were alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues and prisoners’ health.

In 2004 Dr Pete was awarded the 2004 AMA ACT President’s Award for his outstanding contribution to his profession and to the welfare of the ACT Aboriginal community; and during NAIDOC week in 2004 he was awarded the first non-Aboriginal person’s award for his commitment to Aboriginal Health.

In 2008 the ACT community as a whole recognised Dr Pete’s many contributions to our community, made in both his private and professional capacities.  That year he was made ACT Local Hero of the year. His citation reads in part:

“Dr Sharp is 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 Australian Capital Territory and surrounding areas. He is their longest serving staff member.

At first he travelled from Sydney every weekend to run a clinic and then took on home visits. He now runs clinics at local and regional correctional facilities and at Narrabundah Primary School. Peter also works with older people affected by alcohol and substance abuse and trains other medical professionals in Aboriginal health. Peter has a high level of understanding of the complex health, social, emotional, and cultural needs of his patients. In return he is held in high esteem by the local Indigenous community”.

In 2009 Dr Pete was awarded the prestigious Australian Medical Association Excellence in Health Care Award.

In 2010 Dr Pete became a Member of the Order of Australia.

Dr Pete passed away on 18 September 2011.

Members of the public, non-government organisations and the private sector are being encouraged to consider contributing to the Trust.  A fundraising event will also be held to seek donations for the Trust in the coming weeks. ATODA will also be seeking support for the work of the Trust from both the Australian and ACT Governments.

Donations can be made directly to Dr Peter Sharp Trust, Bendigo Bank, BSB 633-000, Account 14411 3024. Please email for a tax-deductible receipt.

For further details please email: drpetersharptrust@atoda.org.au

The Trust is expected to include four key elements:

1. Sponsorship of prizes for students in subjects relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health;
2. Partial or full funding for discrete projects undertaken by researchers working in the alcohol, tobacco and other drugs area;
3. Partial or full funding for scholarships in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health, for students (medical/nursing/other);
4. Support of a network for existing researchers working in the alcohol, tobacco and other drug area in the ACT, to improve communication, and to potentially capitalise in the future on opportunities for applied research type activity.  The research network will foster links between clinicians, researchers, the alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector and the ACT Government.

Further information about the trust will be available shortly.