Thank you to all in attendance at the AGM
AFMW President, Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM released the 2021-2022 Annual Report at the 18 November, 2023 Annual General Meeting.
Thank you to our patron, members, supporters, partners and contributors throughout the year.
View Annual Report (13mb pdf).
President’s Report
“This annual report coincides with the close of the AFMW Triennium which covers the length of my three year Presidency.
At my commencement in November 2020, we were navigating the uncertainties around the COVID-19 pandemic, national border closures, travel restrictions, lockdowns, social and physical distancing and the vaccination roll out.
Oral antivirals were still being developed, the health workforce was struggling with access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and as Australia is a vast and diverse country, there was constant debate around which public health strategy was safest for its community.
We hosted all meetings online and for the first year, held meetings almost weekly to maintain a sense of connection and to exchange information. We met with our neighbours in the Western Pacific region frequently and learned from each other’s national experiences and responses.
It was a steep learning curve for everyone and with it, the health literacy of the nation became a topic of intense focus. We are now in 2023 and even with the resurgence of the latest strains of COVID- 19 in the community, most of us have learned to live with and manage the risks with minimal official intervention.
My strategic plan as set out at the start of my presidency contains three core components which include:
- Technology and Communications,
- Climate Health Action Group (CHAG)
- Medical Women in Technology and Health (MedWiTH)
1. Technology and Communication
Website review, ebulletin for member engagement, WhatsApp Council Group, expansion of the online platform for national and international events, hosting regular meetings and events. Our membership has grown as has our social media presence. The communication strategy includes stakeholder and member engagement which encompasses our advocacy efforts, its reach, our ability to respond to invitations and our visibility on a national scale.
2. Climate Health Action Group (CHAG)
Establishment of CHAG, a vision statement for AFMW, partnering with leaders in climate health advocacy. If we don’t’ protect this magnificent planet which we share with all creatures big and small, all else becomes irrelevant. We have made our voice known clearly here in this published article and have a dedicated website link to climate.
3. Medical Women in Technology and Health (MedWiTH)
To engage, inform, inspire women doctors, and encourage participation in this industry; hosting online sessions, partnering with leading organisations and discussion. Technology and health – this is the largest growing industry which regardless of how engaged we are or not, will influence how we practise medicine and manage our patients. So, let’s be a part of this change.
Some additional initiatives are included with links here:
- Circle of Kindness – Online sessions which are open to all members and provide a safe space to share.
- Governance review – Chaired by Dr Kate Duncan AM and Governance Subcommittee. Ongoing.
- Herstory – Ongoing, building a solid catalogue of mentoring stories of our members.
- Reconciliation Action Plan – AFMW RAP Chair, Dr Marjorie Cross OAM oversees its implementation for our organisation. We are currently in the ‘reflection’ phase of the process.
- AFMW President’s Awards – At the end of this triennium, nine women will have received awards, and my hope is that this will become an AFMW tradition. It’s been the highlight of each year for me as the aim is to annually acknowledge a young medical woman who makes notable contributions to the health of women and our organisation, a medical woman who is a leader and who impacts the nation, and to an AFMW elder who has paved the way for the next generation.
- UN CSW Parallel – AFMW sessions: we hosted three and invited a range of partner organisations and speakers.
Much of our advocacy has focused on the ongoing issues around gender equity, sexual and reproductive health access, indigenous health, doctor well-being and strengthening women in leadership.
Some of the projects and conversations AFMW has contributed to just this year include:
- December 20th 2022: Advocacy – women’s health- AFMW Executive endorsed the submission led, by Professor Susan Davis AO: Mainstreaming menopause: equity in knowledge, access and care.
- Climate Council IWD media campaign https://youtu.be/cyM–MiZq74
- Advocacy Women’s Health – Menopause Roundtable at Parliament House, with the Parliamentary Friends of Women’s Health Group.
- Climate Council IWD media campaign https://youtu.be/cyM–MiZq74
- Women’s Health – Assistant Minister for Health and Aged the Honourable Ged Kearney MP – meeting with M Simonis
- Advocacy and Education MedWiTH – AFMW UN CSW67 parallel session. Our chosen theme “leading through the digital revolution to empower women and girls no matter how far the distance.”
- Partnership – with Australian Women in Health Leadership (AWHL) Monash University.
- Advocacy – women’s health – AFMW Submission to National Strategy for Gender Equality Australia
- Advocacy – women’s health: Senate Community Affairs References Committee – Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare in Australia hearing- attended by M Simonis, M Cross, K Duncan, M Dorrington. See submission here and hearing transcript here.
The face of AFMW Executive is changing with the engagement of Young AFMW members and the rotation of our senior members as we encourage a revolving door approach which aims to promote diversity of opinion, skills and provide opportunity to develop skills.
In closing for 2023, it has been an honour to lead AFMW from 2020 – 2023, through its changes and growth and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the AFMW members, our Council, our technical support Kley MacPherson, and our partners for their contributions.”
Magdalena Simonis
President, Australian Federation of Medical Women
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM is the Immediate Past President of the AFMW (2020-2023), former President of VMWS (2013 & 2017-2020) and current AFMW National Coordinator (2024-2026). She is a full time clinician who also holds positions on several not for profit organisations, driven by her passion for bridging gaps across the health sector. She is a leading women’s health expert, keynote speaker, climate change and gender equity advocate and government advisor. Magda is member of The Australian Health Team contributing monthly articles.
Magdalena was awarded a lifetime membership of the RACGP for her contributions which include past chair of Women in General Practice, longstanding contribution to the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care, the RACGP eHealth Expert Committee. She is regularly invited to comment on primary care research though mainstream and medical media and contributes articles on various health issues through newsGP and other publications.
Magdalena has represented the RACGP at senate enquiries and has worked on several National Health Framework reviews. She is author of the RACGP Guide on Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery and co-reviewer of the RACGP Red Book Women’s Health Chapter, and reviewer of the RACGP White book
Both an RACGP examiner and University examiner, she undertakes general practice research and is a GP Educator with the Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence, which develops education tools to assist the primary care sector identify, respond to and manage family violence . Roles outside of RACGP include the Strategy and Policy Committee for Breast Cancer Network Australia, Board Director of the Melbourne University Teaching Health Clinics and the elected GP representative to the AMA Federal Council. In 2022. she was award the AMA (Vic) Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award 2022, which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community and was listed as Women’s Agenda 2022 finalist for Emerging Leader in Health.
Magdalena has presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly and was appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) in 2021. In 2023, A/Professor Simonis was included on the King’s COVID-19 Champion’s list and was also awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to medicine through a range of roles and to women’s health.
