After completion of her post graduate studies in psychiatry, she was appointed to establish the Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Service to provide comprehensive specialist consultative services for young people with emotional and psychiatric problems. Her key interests have included child and adolescent depression, mental health issues affecting refugee and immigrant children, juvenile justice and Aboriginal health.

In 1987, she was appointed Director of the Community Health Services in the Central Sydney Area which enabled closer access to primary health care links with an emphasis on early childhood services, migrant and indigenous health, the health needs of elderly people, and communicable illness. Health promotion and health education strategies through a population health model were also key responsibilities.

In 1993, she was appointed Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney, and in 1994 the Clinical Director of Mental Health Services for the Central Sydney Area. This was a time of major reform in mental health service delivery, which contributed to substantial change in the provision of public sector mental health services.

Professor Bashir served on the Examinations Committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and also on the Regional Issues Committee. She has established professional links with psychiatry departments in South East Asia, enabling educational exchange and placement of Asian colleagues for postgraduate experience in University of Sydney teaching hospital facilities. She has developed collaborative teaching programs between colleagues in Vietnam and Australian psychiatrists, and also with medical and nursing colleagues in Thailand.

Having had a special interest over many years in indigenous health, Professor Bashir has travelled extensively to visit remote communities in Central Australia, the Kimberley and Arnhem Land to gain a closer understanding of issues of culture and history which impact significantly on health. In 1995, in a partnership with the Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern, she established the Aboriginal Mental Health Unit, which provides regular clinics and counselling at both the Aboriginal Medical Service in Sydney and mainstream centres. Links to some indigenous rural communities have also been developed through the availability of Telemedicine technology.

She was appointed by the Hon Craig Knowles MP, Minister for Health, to chair the Implementation Group on Mental Health to oversee the development of further mental health services in New South Wales as part of the overall health reform process.

In March 2001, Professor Bashir was appointed Governor of New South Wales. Her awards include Mother of the Year in 1971, and in 1988 she was appointed an Officer, and in 2001 a Companion in the Order of Australia.

Until May 2002 Dr Wooding was the First Assistant Secretary of Portfolio Strategies Division in the Department of Health and Ageing. The Division is responsible for central policy co-ordination and economic analysis, budget and financial management.

In 1999-2000, Dr Wooding was Assistant Secretary of the Private Health Industry Branch, which implemented several major Federal Government initiatives, including the 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate, Lifetime Health Cover and Gap Cover.

Dr Wooding holds a PhD in History from the University of Sydney. His research topic related to urban development in colonial India. In 1987 he joined the Department of Housing and Construction to work on policy issues relating to housing and urban administration. Since then, Dr Wooding has had a varied public service career encompassing the areas of policy development, program administration, financial management and corporate services. He has held senior positions in the departments of Finance and Administration, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, most recently, Health and Ageing.