About the QMWS

Dedicated to supporting Queensland medical women and advocating for equitable health for all, especially women and children.

About Us

QMWS is a group of passionate and dedicated women. We work together to support each other and create professional development opportunities for women in the medical workforce. We promote the health and wellbeing of all Australians, in particular, women and children.

Our Membership

Membership is open to female medical students and practitioners in Queensland. We run events and networking opportunities, and provide member only resources and education. QMWS members are automatically members of the Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW) and Medical Women’s International Association.

What We Do

Advocacy

We actively advocate for a number of key issues to support women and non-binary gender individuals and groups.

Projects & Initiatives

We aim to either shed further light on the issues that we advocate for, or assist medical women both professionally and personally.

Public Statements

QMWS drafts for comment and delivers public statements on behalf of its members.

Our Aims

To support, and further the professional development of, women in the medical workforce, including medical students
Promote the health and wellbeing of all Australians, in particular, women and children

Our Affiliations

We are affiliated with the Australian Federation of Medical Women which is in turn affiliated with Medical Women’s International Association. We have members on multiple national Women’s lobby groups, particularly in relationship to women’s health.

Our Executive Committee

Dr Ira van der Steenstraten

President

Dr Maria Boulton

vice president

Dr Fleur Kong

Treasurer

Dr Emily Horan

Secretary

Sponsorship and Bursary Team

Dr Lydia Pitcher (Lead)
Dr Laura Borchert
Dr Kathryn Mainstone (also National Council of Women Qld Liaison Offcer)
Wisalya Wijesinghe

Digital Communications Team

Dr Marissa Daniels (Lead)
Sivasaainii Sivakumaran
Dr Nethmi Wijesekera
Serena Chern (also Student Representative – Griffith University)
Dr Naseera Naeem
Stephanie Sardinha (also Student Representative – Bond University)
Nikita Devaarajan (also Student Representative – University of Queensland)
Savindie Abeynayaka (also Student Representative – Griffith University Sunshine Coast Campus)

AFMW Representative Team

Dr Anita Sharma
Dr Melliissa Naidoo

Events Team

Dr Fiona Faciti
Dr Jennifer Chen
Anoushka Kothari (also Student Representative – James Cook University)

See past QMWS committees:

2021
2020
2019

Our History

In 1896 Australia’s first medical women’s society was formed by an inspiring group of ten Victorian female doctors, including Constance Stone.

The AFMW was formed in 1927 and today the AFMW offers an important network for female doctors Australia wide.

In 1929 QMWS was formed.

The History of the Medical Women’s Societies

1895

Victorian Medical Women’s Society (VMWS)

1919

Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA)

1921

Medical Women’s Society of New South Wales (MWSNSW)

1927

Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW)

1929

Queensland Medical Women’s Society (QMWS)

1950+

SA, WA, ACT, Tasmanian Medical Women’s Societies

1995

Supporting Women In Medicine (SWIM) – student organisation, University of Queensland

National & International Affiliates

Interested in being involved?

We welcome new members and participation in QMWS activities.