Margaret Julia Tobin

Margaret Julia Tobin (1952 – 14 October 2002) was a psychiatrist and leader of Australian mental health services reform. She was the victim of a murder committed by Eric Gassy, a former psychiatrist whom she had played a role in removing from medical practice some years prior.

Early life and education Margaret Julia Tobin was born in 1952 and was brought to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from the UK by her parents in 1954. She was the eldest of eight children.

Australian mental health service reforms Tobin completed her training in psychiatry in 1986 and as a psychiatrist, took on leadership roles and became a mental health services manager in Victoria. Directly after the shooting, there was immediate concern that the motive had been to halt the ongoing mental health reform process. Prompt security measures were taken to protect staff and patients at Glenside Psychiatric Hospital, as well as the Premier and Health Minister.

Honours and commemorations Following her death, Dr Tobin and her legacy of mental health reform and health service leadership was honoured and commemorated in a number of different ways, including:

The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators renamed their Challenge Award, presented to the highest-calibre 12-minute candidate presentation at their annual conference, to the Margaret Tobin Challenge Award in December 2002. Lister House, North Terrace, designed by F. Kenneth Milne in 1928, was renamed Tobin House in 2002. In Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, there is a tree commemorative plaque in memory of Tobin. In February 2003, construction began on the Margaret Tobin Centre, an acute mental health building at the Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide. The South Australian Regional Local Health Network runs scholarships for employees of their six regional local health networks undertaking postgraduate study. The Margaret Tobin SA Rural Postgraduate Mental Health Scholarship is offered for those studying in the field of mental health. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists awards The Margaret Tobin Award to the college Fellow who has made the most significant contribution to administrative psychiatry over the preceding five years. The recipient is invited to present the 'Margaret Tobin Oration' keynote address. Induction onto the Mercy honour roll by Mount Lilydale Mercy College in 2017.

Media Book: Melissa Sweet, 2006. Inside Madness: How One Woman's Passionate Drive to Reform the Mental Health System Ended in Tragedy. Macmillan Australia TV series episode: Michael Venables, 2017. Murder Calls Australia. (Season 1, episode 6) Margaret Tobin. Nine Network.