Sunshine Coast pediatrician, Tom Sun Yap, faces Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal

A disgraced Sunshine Coast pediatrician, jailed for possessing child exploitation material, has told a court he can still make a “meaningful” contribution to society.

Tom Sun Yap leaves Maroochydore District Court. Photo: Patrick Woods.

A disgraced Sunshine Coast doctor, jailed for possessing child exploitation material last year, has told a court of his new career move.

Former pediatrician Tom Sun Yap was working at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital when police charged him with multiple child exploitation offences, after finding more than 2000 files in his possession.

Yap pleaded guilty to six offences including using a carriage service to transmit child pornography material, possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage and possessing child exploitation material in July last year.

He was sentenced to six months jail, which was suspended after he spent a total of four months behind bars.

The sentencing judge described Yap’s actions as “depraved” and stated his work with children during the offending was an aggravating factor.

New Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal documents show Yap has since been disqualified from reapplying for registration as medical practitioner for eight years, in a decision handed down on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

In a letter to the tribunal, Yap stated he was working on starting his own business following the cancellation of his practitioner's registration, with the possibility of also taking up medical administrative work in the future.

“In moving forward, I am now focused on building my own business in a non-medical related sector,” Yap said.

“I may look into a non-clinical medical administrative role in the future, should I be given the opportunity to continue a role in contributing meaningfully to society.”

QCAT member Richard Jones ordered Yap be disqualified from reapplying for registration for eight years to “protect public confidence” in the medical profession.

He acknowledged Yap showed no intentions of reapplying for registration.