Our History

The formation of ANZSOM reflects the burgeoning interest in occupational health that developed in Australia in the 50’s and 60’s.

In the 1950's there had been sections of Industrial Medicine in the Victorian and New South Wales Branches of the British Medical Association (later AMA). In 1966, Gilbert Charles, Chief Medical Officer of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority, invited these groups to hold a joint meeting at Cabramurra, at which the possibility of a national body was discussed. Two years later in Canberra, a meeting of over 30 individuals resolved to form the Australian Society of Occupational Medicine (ASOM), with the objectives and rules of the organisation being formalised at a similar meeting the following year.

In 1970 the New South Wales, Victorian and Queensland branches were formed and subsequently Western Australia and South Australia. Between 1970 and 1972 New Zealand physicians had shown great interest in the Australian Society of Occupational Medicine, and at the Scientific Meeting held in Melbourne in 1972 the name of the Society was changed to become The Australian and New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine and thus was ANZSOM born.

In 2008, ANZSOM amalgamated with the Australian Occupational Health Nurses Association.

2011 marked the 40th anniversary of a combined Australian and New Zealand Society.

A full history of the society which was penned by Dr Mannie Rathus can be downloaded below.

Download full history of ANZSOM

An early history of ANZSOM in New Zealand (1965-1984) has been produced by Dr Bill Glass, which can also be downloaded below.

Download the history of ANZSOM New Zealand

Past presidents of ANZSOM

1968 Dr W P Nelson (NSW)
1969-71 Dr W P Nelson (NSW)
1971-73 Dr D R O'Donnell (VIC)
1973-75 Prof D A Ferguson (NSW)
1975-77 Dr W H Denehy (VIC)
1977-79 Dr K J Wilson (SA)
1979-81 Dr S F McCullagh (NSW)
1981-83 Dr J Stoke (NZ)

1983-85 Dr K E Brown (VIC)
1985-87 Dr N W H Ormonde (WA)
1987-89 Prof. C A Mitchell (QLD)
1989-92 Dr G B Hanna (NSW)
1992-94 Dr K S Sleigh (VIC)
1994-96 Dr R J Scott (ACT)
1996-98 Dr J Cross (SA)
1998-2000 Dr Helen Jagger (NSW)

2000-02 Dr Tony Barr (WA)
2002-04 Dr Barry Gilbert (VIC)
2004-06 Dr Chris Walls (NZ)
2006-08 Dr Andrew Newman-Morris (VIC)
2008-10 Dr Virginia Pascall (NSW)
2010-12 Dr Robert McCartney (QLD)
2012-14 Dr Amanda Sillcock (VIC)
2014-current Ms Melinda Miller (QLD)