Dr. Sidney Sax

Dr. Sidney Sax's contribution to public health in Australia began when he came to Australia in 1960. He became the first Director of the Division of Research and Planning in the Health Commission of NSW in 1972 that had brought together the separate government departments that had previously dealt with health matters in that State. Here Dr. Sax created data sets, which for the first time allowed basic health services planning to be undertaken. This included the beginnings of the hospital morbidity data collection.

In the early 1970's Dr. Sax published an analysis of the ills of Australia's health system entitled "Medical Care in the Melting Pot" and was the first person to head the National Hospitals and Health Services Commission. During the Commission's life a revolution occurred in all aspects of health care delivery and financing benefiting Australian cities poorly served for in-patient care. Medibank was introduced and the distribution of primary care medical practitioners in deprived places improved overnight.

Dr. Sax and his team also gave Health Services Research and Public Health a great boost through the establishment of RADAC (Research and Development Advisory Committee) which funded innovative research for many years. Dr. Sax later became the first chair of the Public Health Research and Development Committee.

Dr. Sax retired in 1982 but continued to write about and have a strong interest in Australia's health services and was the chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare up until a few weeks before he died in 2001.

Dr. Sax was a great supporter of PHAA and was made a life member in recognition of all the assistance he gave the organisation. The naming of the Public Health Association's Medal as the Sidney Sax Public Health Medal is a fitting reminder of all Dr. Sax achieved and will be a reminder to future generations of our membership of the contributions that have come before them.

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