a strong lead coordinating doctors in Melbourne to deal with technological issues related to systems for tracing the spread of the virus, and has continued to speak freely about the challenges faced by staff on the frontline, particularly with regard to getting adequate supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE). Honours On 1 January 2001, he was granted the Centenary Medal for service to medicine. In the Australia Day Honours in 2011, Haikerwal was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to medical administration, to the promotion of public health through leadership roles with professional organisations, particularly the Australian Medical Association, to the reform of the Australian health system through the optimisation of information technology, and as a general practitioner". In 2018, he was upgraded to a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia's highest civilian honour, for "eminent service to medical governance, administration, and technology, and to medicine, through leadership roles with a range of organisations, to education and the not-for-profit sector, and to the community of western Melbourne". Personal life Haikerwal is married to Karyn Alexander, who is also a doctor and they have three sons Ajaya, Suresh, and Jeevan. On 27 September 2008, Haikerwal was assaulted and robbed by five men near Dennis Reserve in Williamstown, Victoria. Haikerwal sustained serious head injuries in the attack, and was in a coma for 24 hours, remaining in hospital for two months. Maikerwal recalls trying to reason with the youths who assaulted him, but has no memory of the actual blow to the head. However, he quickly realised the potential of a bleed in his brain and managed to call his wife, and with the assistance of a nearby police officer and his brother Dr Deepak Haikerwal, a cardiologist, was able to get to hospital. He underwent emergency brain surgery to remove two blood clots from his brain and suffered an injury which required him to learn how to walk and talk again. He was transferred to Epworth Hospital's in-patient rehabilitation centre, where he underwent a "five-week program of intense physiotherapy and speech therapy, after which he was talking and walking as before." When one of the attackers was not deported to his home country, Haikerwal said he supported the decision in principle, but expressed some concerns whether victims' interests were being carefully considered in these cases. The prison sentences the attackers received are said to have