About

I have worked in the field of occupational medicine for 30 years. After studying medicine at the University of Adelaide, I started my occupational career as the on-site doctor on Hydro Tasmania’s West Coast Construction in the mid-1980’s. Here I gained experience in general practice as well as experiencing the ‘coal-face’  with  serious industrial and motor vehicle injuries, including a number of workplace fatalities.

I went on to a managerial role in workplace health & safety with the Hydro, before branching out into rehabilitation management in my own business during the 1990’s.  I worked for a short period as a visiting occupational physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital and assisted with setting up their Occupational Health Unit. For the last 20 years I have worked as an occupational physician in private practice in Hobart.

I have an interest in the management of musculoskeletal  injuries and occupational diseases with a particular interest in low back pain, overuse conditions and occupational respiratory disorders and the management of rehabilitation programmes.

I have experience as an independent medical assessor with accreditation as an impairment assessor in Tasmania for upper and lower limb, spinal, nervous system, ENT (including hearing), respiratory and skin impairments.

I am passionate about changes at a system level to improve the management of work-related injury. I have regular contact with WorkCover Tasmania, the government body that oversees the system in Tasmania. Recently I have convened the AMA Workers Compensation Reform Committee. I am active within the Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) and other medical organisations. I am  a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the AMA, Tasmanian Association of Vocational Rehabilitation Providers and Asbestos Free Tasmania Foundation.

My blog aims to provide commentary about potential improvements to our compensation systems with a meld of my career experience as an occupational physician with the emerging literature on this subject.

The banner photos are various panoramas from around Tasmania, including the Wellington Range, Cradle Mountain including the Ballroom Forest, Boat Harbour, Huon Valley with and without snow, Blackman’s Bay Beach and the Derwent River at New Norfolk.

Hear my recent podcast that provides further details about my career:

RTW Nation Podcast Episode 8 – Peter Sharman about Complex Case Management

GREAT TASMANIAN PERSPECTIVES!

Peter Sharman – March 2016