Cr Australian organisation is a FEDERATION made up of State and Territory members elected by their own bodies and includes yAFMW.

All the States and Territory organisations and individual members have continued to hold functions and individual women leaders have achieved honours in the quarter to 30th September.

In particular we recognise:

  • Dr. Ashna Basu – who was awarded the Women’s Health Award from Australian Medical Association
  • Professor Magdalena Simonis who was recognised as an Emerging Leader in Health by Women’s Agenda, a prominent national feminist organisation. Assoc. Prof Simonis was also elected to the Council of Australian Medical Association. 
  • Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis was the recipient of the AMA(Vic) Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award, which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community.

Notable activities to date:

Initiatives started: 

Circle of Kindness: monthly AFMW Fireside chats
AFMW Leaderships Scholarship to a yAFMW member: received by Dr. Madeleine Warrilow, a 4th year Hospital Medical Doctor working in O+G in Melbourne

Presentations:

AFMW members attended and presented at the MWIA triennial conference 

Sept 13 8-9pm EDT/Sept 14 10-11 AEST

Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis represented AFMW at the AMWA webinar, 
One World, One War Against COVID- What Next? – American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) 
https://www.amwa-doc.org/event/one-world-one-war-against-covid-what-next/

Women’s Health Week
5th September 
Associate Professor Simonis gave a live Q+A presentation to students at University of Melbourne on endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, PCOS., contraception, mental health 

Publications:

MJA Insight+ 29th August 2022 author, Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis

Endometriosis: gender, science, religion and politics | InSight+
https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2022/33/endometriosis-gender-science-religion-and-politics/

Leadership and Mentoring:

AFMW President Magdalena Simonis has participated as a leader/mentor in the Inaugural National Women in Digital Health program, over the 6-month period ending August 31st, 2022. More than 35 women were mentored by 6 women leaders from around the country and the program has been sponsored and promoted by Telstra Health, Australasian Institute of Digital Health and Alcidion-COVIU.

Drs Kate Duncan and Desiree Yap are acting National Co-ordinators until the AFMW AGM in November.

Submitted on behalf of AFMW by acting National Co-ordinators Dr. Kate Duncan and Dr. Desiree Yap.