Two Bayside Health Peninsula leaders have received national recognition in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List for their work in community health, disability support, mental health care and psychiatry.
Iain Edwards OAM, Operations Director of Community and Ambulatory Services at Bayside Health Peninsula, received the Medal of the Order of Australia for significant service to community health and to people who are blind or have low vision.
Professor Richard Newton AM, a consultant psychiatrist at Bayside Health Peninsula, was recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to mental health care and to the psychiatry profession.
A career focused on equity and access
Edwards has more than 15 years of leadership experience across disability services, public health and the not-for-profit sector.
His work has also extended well beyond Bayside Health Peninsula. He has served 11 years on the Guide Dogs Victoria Board, worked as a Director of Guide Dogs Australia and held the role of Interim CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria.
Edwards said the honour meant a great deal.
“I feel very honoured and privileged to be recognised under the Order of Australia,” he said.
“There are a lot of people who do a lot of great things, and it’s great to be acknowledged for my contributions both in the health sector and the disability sector.”
Edwards said equity has remained central to his work.
“I’m really passionate about equity, and ensuring some of our most vulnerable members of our community have access to either good healthcare or good disability supports,” he said.
He said much of his work has focused on helping workplaces and communities build better systems.
“A lot of my work has been very much driven around building those capabilities and cultures and systems within workplaces and communities to enable people to live the life of their choice.”
Edwards said his own lived experience as a blind person has shaped the way he leads.
“Utilising my own lived experience as an individual who is blind has really influenced the way I provide leadership, particularly values around equity and supporting people to be the best that they can be, and that’s been a very strong driver for me in my leadership,” he said.
Mental health leadership recognised
Professor Newton has spent much of his career working in mental health care and psychiatry.
He works as a consultant psychiatrist at Bayside Health Peninsula and previously served as Clinical Director of Mental Health at Bayside Health Peninsula.
He also holds the role of Adjunct Professor at Monash University.
His appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia recognises his contribution to mental health care, clinical leadership and the psychiatry profession.
The honours place a local spotlight on work across the Peninsula’s health sector, from disability advocacy and community health access to specialist mental health care and professional leadership.
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