Margaret Julia Tobin

Dr Margaret 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.

Eight years later, Dr Tobin had become the director of mental health services for South Australia. On 14 October 2002, she was returning to her office when Eric Gassy shot her four times and she died shortly after arriving at hospital. Directly after the shooting, there was immediate concern that the motive had been to halt the ongoing mental health reform process, and prompt security measures were taken to protect staff and patients at Glenside Psychiatric Hospital, as well as the Premier and Health Minister.

In 1994, Dr Tobin wrote to the New South Wales Medical Board requesting the evaluation of fitness to practice of one of the staff specialists at St George's, Eric Gassy, following a period of extended sick leave. Eric had at one point acted as director of the mental health unit at St George's, however he was never formerly appointed due to paranoid behaviour, conflict with senior nursing staff and a reputation for propositioning young female staff. No formal action had been taken, however, prior to Dr Tobin's request for evaluation.

This led to her appointment to St George Hospital in Sydney in 1993 to lead a similar rejuvenation of mental health services in the city. After this she was appointed as head of mental health services for South Australia.

Dr 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. Around this time, widespread corruption, abuse and neglect within Victorian mental health institutions came to light via several inquiries. Dr Tobin led positive change and instigated reform in response to these findings in Willsmere, Melbourne; Lakeside hospital and Aradale hospital, Ballarat; and Ararat hospital.

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. She graduated from Mount Lilydale Mercy College in 1970 and received a scholarship to study medicine at Melbourne University in 1978.