November 2002

Tributes to Margaret Tobin

Department of Human Services Secretary Patricia Faulkner has paid tribute to South Australian Director of Mental Health Dr Margaret Tobin who was tragically killed in Adelaide.

Dr Tobin grew up in Croydon and studied medicine at the University in Melbourne, graduating from St Vincent’s Clinical School.

She became a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) in 1986.

Her medical and psychiatric expertise was supplemented by a Masters of Business Administration from Monash University in 1990, Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators in 1991 and Fellowship of the Australian College of Health Service Executives in 1998.

Dr Tobin began her career in psychiatry in Victoria working in clinical roles in various settings—general hospital, psychiatric hospital and private practice.

In 1988 she accepted a position in the Victorian Health Department Policy Unit.

From there, Dr Tobin went on to specialise in the management of mental health services at Willsmere and then Lakeside Hospital in Ballarat where she oversaw the closing of Lakeside and the mainstreaming of its services to Ballarat Base Hospital.

Dr Tobin moved to New South Wales in the early 1990s, working as the Area Mental Health Director for Southern Sydney Area Health Service from 1993 to 1995 then for South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service from 1995 to 2000.

She started work at the Department of Human Services in South Australia in July 2000.

Ms Faulkner’s tribute was echoed throughout the Australian mental health sector, including the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.

‘Dr Tobin’s many professional achievements were driven by a passion for the rights of the mentally ill and particularly for the development of top quality, efficient and effective mental health services,’ said RANZCP President Dr Wayne Miles.