Hello everyone,
I am proud to share that 27 Tasmanians were recognised for their individual expertise and excellence in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.
Among these outstanding Tasmanians were four of our colleagues from across the State Service. It is my great honour to congratulate them and further highlight their exceptional achievements.
Assistant Commissioner Douglas Oosterloo APM was awarded an Australian Police Medal for his distinguished service as a member of an Australian police force. Assistant Commissioner Oosterloo has served in Tasmania Police since 1994, building a distinguished career across operational, investigative and senior leadership roles. In his current role, he leads a significant portfolio including major national and state initiatives and a range of specialist services that contribute directly to community confidence in policing. He has demonstrated strong leadership in complex and high-pressure environments, including overseeing sensitive investigations within Professional Standards, and has driven reform and innovation that have delivered lasting organisational benefits.
Ms Michelle Izard ASM was awarded an Ambulance Service Medal for her distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service. Ms Izard commenced her career as a frontline paramedic in 2011 and has since held a range of critical operational and leadership roles, including within the Communications Centre, State Operations Centre, and Critical Care and Retrieval services. She is currently Manager of Integrated Care and is undertaking a secondment as the senior change manager and functional panel chair for the Ambulance Electronic Patient Care Record (AePCR) Project, Bluegum Health Transformation. Throughout her career, Ms Izard has shown exceptional capability in high-pressure environments, leading teams through complex incidents with a calm and accountable approach. Her leadership has also extended to significant organisation-wide reform, delivering projects that have strengthened clinical governance, service delivery, and support for frontline staff.
Mr Garry White ASM was awarded an Ambulance Service Medal for his distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service. Mr White commenced his frontline service with Ambulance Tasmania in 2006 and has since built a career spanning intensive care paramedicine, rotary flight response, and senior operational leadership. He currently serves as Director of Operations for the Southern Region, where he is responsible for the welfare and performance of paramedics and volunteers. Mr White has demonstrated exceptional leadership across both frontline and executive domains, including leading the development and implementation of Tasmania’s integrated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, significantly improving response capability and patient outcomes. His leadership during major incidents and the COVID-19 pandemic reflects his enduring contribution to emergency health services in Tasmania.
Ms Margaret Chilcott ASM was awarded an Ambulance Service Medal for her distinguished service as a member of an Australian ambulance service. Ms Chilcott commenced service as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer in 2012 and continues to support rural and remote communities across Tasmania. In addition, she serves as volunteer coordinator of the Poatina Community Emergency Response Team, leading rapid response efforts in isolated areas where early intervention is critical. Over more than 13 years, Ms Chilcott has made an extraordinary contribution through frontline response, leadership, and mentorship, dedicating more than 54,000 volunteer hours to Ambulance Tasmania. Her work has significantly strengthened emergency response capability across regional communities and reflects the highest standards of volunteer service.
I offer my sincere congratulations to each recipient for their respective awards, and I’m sure you will all join me in celebrating their wonderful achievements.
Kind regards
Kathrine Morgan-Wicks PSM
Head of the State Service
