NSW doctor Gordian Fulde, the longest-serving emergency department director in the country, has been named Senior Australian of the Year.
Professor Fulde has headed emergency at St Vincent's Hospital and Sydney Hospital for more than three decades.
The 67-year-old was on Monday night recognised for his work campaigning against the scourge of ice and alcohol-fuelled violence - overwhelmingly the main cause of injury in emergency departments.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull revealed Prof Fulde as this year's Senior Australians of the Year at a ceremony on the lawns of Canberra's Parliament House.
Prof Fulde wants to use his year to advocate against violence, saying it has no place in Australia.
"The individuals are fed up with what's happening," he told AAP at the ceremony.
The doctor sees alcohol and drug fuelled violence regularly at St Vincent's, located in the party precinct of Kings Cross.
"What we are doing now, a lot of it is unnecessary and stupid," he said.
"There's no good reason to get blind drunk. Have a few drinks, BBQ, family, whatever."
He wants Australians to understand the risks of alcohol.
"Even if you're drinking a bottle of wine a night, you're destined for really serious health problems - from your brain to your heart," he said.
"I want people to know that."
For Prof Fulde, being a part of the Australian of the Year awards is like a "fairytale".
"It's like pinch. Is this real? Nah, it's not real," he said.
In addition to his hospital work, Professor Fulde supports many schools and community organisations and sits on the board of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation.
He is also actively involved in teaching and training students and staff, and is a familiar face on the reality TV show Kings Cross ER.
