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Twelve GPs receive King's Birthday Honours in 2026

Royal Australian College of GPs

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has warmly congratulated GPs recognised in the King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List for their contributions to general practice and their communities.

Twelve current and former specialist GPs received King’s Birthday honours in 2026, including Dr Sean Stevens, RACGP WA immediate past Chairand Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Digital Health and Innovation.

RACGP President Dr Michael Wright congratulated all recipients.

“King’s Birthday Honours recognise truly outstanding service and achievement,” he said.

“On behalf of the profession and the RACGP, congratulations to everyone named in the King’s Birthday Honours this year.”

Professor Noel Hayman – specialist GP, RACGP fellow, and 2011 Queensland Australian of the Year – was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine, particularly to Indigenous healthcare and medical education.

Professor Hayman was Queensland’s first Indigenous doctor, has been Clinical Director of the Inala Indigenous Health Service since 1995, and is the Co-Founder and Director of the Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care.

Dr Shane Sondergeld, a foundation board member of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), was also appointed an AM for significant service to rural and remote medicine, to general practice, and to the community.

Dr Sondergeld is also a past president with the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland and the Australian Medical Association Queensland.

Eight current and past RACGP members were awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division:

• Dr Andrew Beattie, Life Member, New South Wales: For service to the community of Coffs Harbour
• Dr Fiona Boyd, Member, New South Wales: For service to general and palliative care medicine
• Dr Kenneth Facer, retired, New South Wales: For service to medicine as a general practitioner
• Dr Timothy Harpur, Life Member, New South Wales: For service to the community of the Northern Beaches
• Dr Helen Roxburgh, Life Member, South Australia: For service to general practice, particularly in the areas of women’s health
• Dr Sean Stevens, Fellow, Western Australia: For service to general practice medicine
• Dr Abhishek Verma, Fellow, Victoria: For service to medicine, and to medical administration

• Dr Lachlan Warren, former GP and specialist dermatologist, South Australia: For service to dermatology

Two dual Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (FACEM) and RACGP were recognised for outstanding service in the Military Division of the Order of Australia.

Wing Commander Alan Turner was awarded an OAM in the Military Division for meritorious service in the development of health capability for the Royal Australian Air Force.

Commander Scott Squires was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) for outstanding devotion to duty in the field of Maritime Operational Health for the Royal Australian Navy.

While not a specialist GP, Canberra sonologist Dr Wesley Cormick also received an OAM for service to ultrasound and general practice medicine.

The 2026 list recognises 948 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards, and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service.

Recipients will be invested with their awards in the coming months, either by the Governor-General at Government House in Canberra, or by the State Governors or Administrator of the Northern Territory.

~ENDS

About us:

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the peak representative organisation for general practice, the backbone of Australia’s health system. We set the standards for general practice, facilitate lifelong learning for GPs, connect the general practice community, and advocate for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.

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