Suggested Resolution on CLIMATE CHANGE to be proposed by AFMW at the 2010 MWIA Congress. 

MWIA supports that people who are displaced as a result of climate change be granted refugee status. 

MWIA recognizes the responsibility of industrialised countries to assist other nations, both financially and with technical assistance, in their adapting and responding to the climate change that is already affecting them, as well as assisting these countries to reduce their contribution to further climate change.

Suggested Resolution on HUMAN RIGHTS FOR GLBTI PEOPLE. (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex peoples) to be proposed by AFMW at the 2010 MWIA Congress. MWIA recognizes that in many countries homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people face discrimination in the form of violence and persecution. MWIA acknowledges that it is a basic human right to live and work free from such discrimination and persecution. Therefore, MWIA urges governments to remove legislation that discriminates against GLBTI peoples, and urges for legislation to protect the basic human rights of GLBTI peoples. And MWIA encourages that where there is the substantial threat or actual persecution and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, that this be grounds for refugee status being granted. 

Please see our newsletter page for our latest events....we are in the process of updating this section.

We had a great turn out for our autumn dinner on 26th May 2010, despite the rain, and thank you to all of those who ventured out on such a night. Louella McCarthy,  Senior Lecturer in School of Medicine at University of Western Sydney gave a historical overview of medical women in NSW from 1880 to 1939. Her talk titled “Uncommon Practices” highlighted the issues faced by women entering and doing medicine during this period. Informal discussion afterwards suggested that there were some areas of medicine that are still problematic for women graduates.  MWS of NSW through the  Australian Federation of Medical Women historically and currently is committed to an awareness and action on such issues.

Future dinners and  meeting will be 25^th August and  24^th November 2010. Hope to see you there, Liz Rickman Secretary.

In April 2009, MWS of NSW held a dinner/speaker event at AMA House.  One of our speakers was Dr Liz Rickman. Liz is currently Secretary of MWS of NSW and a Sydney inner west general practitioner, who has also worked in diverse environments such as Aboriginal communities in Central Australia and as a medic for Greenpeace at sea.  While working on the ‘Rainbow Warrior', protesting against ocean oil spills, Liz was arrested and spent time in solitary confinement while held under ‘uncharacteristic legislation' in Sweden.  Liz is a long-time activist and spokesperson on environmental issues, and is currently involved with Climate Change concerns.  Liz gave a fascinating talk on ‘Medicine, Activism and the Environment', and inspired us all with her motivation in tackling the issue of Climate Change and its impact on health.

President & Acting Treasurer: Dr Sharon Tivey.

Sharon Tivey is an anaesthetist, working mainly in the public hospital system. Her undergraduate training was at The University of Sydney followed by postgraduate training in Sydney and Virginia, USA. She enjoys teaching and is a Conjoint Lecturer at the UNSW. She is keen to encourage RMOs in anaesthesia as a career, though she doesn’t subscribe to the view ‘that it’s a good job for a woman’. Her “real world” interests were previously eating out, travel etc but are now racing around after a toddler and her big brother and dreaming of sleep, travel/ eating out etc. She has been involved with the Medical Women’s Society of NSW since internship and has been the AFMW Treasurer for several years.

Secretary: Dr Liz Rickman

Dr Liz Rickman is currently an inner city GP. After deciding not to complete the physician’s training programme in order to focus on general practice, she now works as a holistic GP in inner city Sydney. She loves the variety of work and learning situations that general practice offers. She feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to work in different locations on Aboriginal communities and rural communities, and eered as ship medic on several Greenpeace campaigns. She has had a long term commitment to the environment, peace, reconciliation, human rights and gender equity issues, and believes that through consistent education, awareness and changing our own attitudes, together with others we can aim for a more equitable and peaceful world for all life.

Committee Members:

Dr Gabrielle Casper (former President of MWIA, current AWC Chairman)

Dr Gabrielle Casper is a Sydney gynaecologist with and a special interest in women’s health and human rights. She is Immediate Past President of both the Australian Federation of Medical Women and the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA). She has represented MWIA at the World Health Organisation and United Nations meetings. Dr Casper received the 2004 Australian Medical Association (AMA) Women’s Health Award and also the 2004 AMA Woman in Medicine Award. Dr Casper enjoys working as a gynaecologist and cares for her patients with compassion and understanding while lobbying to improve women’s health in Australia and overseas.

Dr Margaret Mills

Dr Janet Kitchen-Smith

Young Doctors Representative: Emily Gregory-Roberts

Emily Gregory-Roberts, Doctor in Training Representative: Emily is a doctor in training at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. She completed her MBBS(Hons) at the University of Sydney in 2008, and in her final year was the student representative on the MWSNSW committee. She enjoys the operating theatre but also live theatre, having acted in theatre and television and written a short play. She is enthusiastic about MWSNSW's role in connecting medical students, junior doctors and more experienced doctors, enabling them to share experiences
and support and inspire each other.

Student Representative: Ms Georgia McCaughan

Administrative Assistant: Wendi Berkana