Dr Sally Cockburn is a GP and health advocate - with a twist - while she practices part time in suburban Melbourne she is also known around Australia as ‘Dr Feelgood’, a high profile media presenter who champions sensitive issues and demystifies medicine.
Along with over 30 years clinical experience her 22 year media career spans every television network and Australia’s top radio networks. She spent 10 years as health presenter on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton and her national radio sex and relationships program Pillowtalk was a trailblasing phenomenon in the 1990s . She also hosted her own talk back TV show on Channel 7. Currently she can be heard hosting her Sunday Night talk back radio program, Talking Health, on Melbourne’s radio 3AW. Sally is recipient of the radio industry’s award for best documentary and an MBF award for excellence in health journalist.
Behind the scenes, Sally is passionate about patient and community issues and is active in health policy and education at many levels. Sally is a Lifetime Australia Day Ambassador for Victoria and in 2010 Sally was inducted into the Victorian Women’s honour roll for harnessing the media to improve health communications. That same year she was also awarded the Monash Distinguished Alumni service award.
She has served as Chair of Family Planning Victoria,on the boards of Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Vichealth and also the Victorian Government’s Mental Health Reform Council and Sexual Health Task Force. She has also been a member of the Melbourne Zoo’s Scientific Advisory Committee.
Sally is patron or ambassador for many community organisations including Royal District Nursing service and Melbourne Osteoporosis Support Group. She is an Ambassador for Lort Smith Animal Hospital and a proud rescue dog owner.
Sally champions those who feel disempowered. She is willing to stand up against bullies and ensures sensitive issues are not brushed under the table.
No issue to delicate no problem to extreme - nothing fases this doc: as she says - if she hasn’t seen or heard it she’s probably swabbed it. Tall buildings and speeding bullets would be next except she’s dead scared of the lycra tights.