Our History

The history of Southern IML Pathology really began in 1982, when its precursor, Andersen Pathology commenced operations with founder Dr Stephen Andersen. In the early days Andersen Pathology operated as a histology and cytology laboratory out of a small room on Crown Street, Wollongong

Southern.IML Pathology provides a comprehensive private pathology service to the Illawarra and South Coast region of New South Wales and is the largest private pathology practice in the region with approximately three hundred members of staff.

It is a fully owned subsidiary of Sonic Healthcare Limited , an Australian owned and publicly listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange. Sonic Healthcare is the largest pathology service provider in Australasia.

Southern.IML Pathology is committed to providing a quality pathology service to all its referring medical practitioners, patients and their staff. In 1991 and 1992 we introduced an ISO9002 quality system and became the first pathology laboratory in Australia to obtain quality systems certification to ISO9002.

In 1994, the process of organisational self-assessment against the Australian Quality Award Criteria began and in 1995 we were recognised with a Commendation for High Achievement by the Australian Quality Council.  As a result further process improvements were introduced and in 1999 Southern.IML Pathology was a Winner in the Australian Quality Awards for Business Excellence.

Southern.IML Pathology History Summary

1982    Commenced business as Andersen Pathology

1988    Andersen Pathology merged with Gilberg Pathology to form Southern Pathology

1992    ISO 9002 Certification (now known as ISO 9001)

1995    Commendation for High Achievement, Australian Quality Awards

1997    Alpha Healthcare purchases Southern Pathology

1998    Consumer Services Award in the Inaugural Illawarra Business Awards

1999    Alpha Healthcare sells it’s pathology division to Sonic Healthcare

1999    Sonic Healthcare acquires Southern Pathology

1999    Winner of an Australian Quality Award for Business Excellence

1999    Awarded Illawarra Business of the Year

2001    Southern Pathogy joins with Illawarra Medical Laboratory to form Southern.IML Pathology

2002    Southern.IML Patholgy and LIfeline Southcoast form a community partnership

2006    Certified as a Registered Training Authority by VETAB NSW

2008    Winner  of Ministers Award for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices