Peter Brukner

OAM, MBBS, D Sc(honoris causa), FACSEP, FASMF, FACSM, FFSEM

Sport And Exercise Medicine Specialist, Public Health Campaigner

Peter Brukner is a world renowned sport and exercise physician who has played a leading role in the development of sports medicine both in Australia and internationally. More recently Peter has become a passionate advocate of improving nutrition particularly in those with chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes.

Peter is the founding partner of Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre in Melbourne and Professor of Sports Medicine at LaTrobe University. A founding Executive Member of the Australasian College of Sports Physicians, he served two terms as President and played a key role in establishing sports medicine as a medical specialty in Australia.

Nutrition

Peter is the co-founder of the public health campaign SugarByHalf and is committed to the challenge of improving the nation’s health with improved diet and increased physical activity. His best selling book A Fat Lot of Good was published in 2018. Peter is also the Founder and Chair of Defeat Diabetes, an app and web-based program, aimed at improving diabetes control through diet. His latest book The Diabetes Plan was published in March 2023.

“YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE PLAYING CRICKET”

On the 10th anniversary, Peter looks back on the tragic death of Australian Test cricketer Phillip Hughes.

Read More

My Hero Redders

Remembering childhood hero, Ian Redpath who passed away at the age of 83.

Read More

Monthly Highlights

Nov 2024

PT Pro Talk podcast

Podcast

2025 Senior Australian of the Year

Award

A Life in Sport and Medicine

CEO Institute Melbourne

Indian Society of Sports and Exercise Medicine

Conference

La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre

Annual student writing retreat

Recently Peter was the keynote speaker at the 2nd Indian Society for Sports and Exercise Medicine (ISSEM) conference in Varanasi. Peter gave two talks, one on the Australian experience developing the specialty of sports medicine, and another talk entitled Nutrition, Health and Performance.

In a recent ceremony attended by the Victorian Governor and Premier, Peter was named the 2025 Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria, in recognition of both his sports medicine work and his public health advocacy. Peter, with the other State winners, now goes on to Canberra for the National Australian of the Year announcement by the Prime Minister on January 25th.

Honours & Awards