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

More 2021 committee member information coming soon!

Dr Ira van der Steenstraten

President

Dr Maria Boulton

vice president

Dr Fleur Kong

Treasurer

Dr Jessica Witherspoon

Secretary

Event Coordinator: Dr Emily Chiang
Sponsorship Officers: Dr Lydia Pitcher, Dr Kathryn Mainstone, Laura Borchert
Website Coordinators: Dr Naseera Naeem, Dr Nethmi Wijesekera
IT Coordinator: Dr Marissa Daniels
Newsletter Editor: Dr Emily Horan
Social Media Officer: Dr Georgina Juniper
AFMW Representatives: Dr Anita Sharma, Dr Maria Boulton
UQ Representatives: Saumya Chanana, Donya Sabet
James Cook University Representative: Julia Chequer de Souza
General Committee: Dr Fiona Raciti

See past QMWS committees:
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.