As part of our 25th Anniversary celebrations, we hosted an International Women’s Day Breakfast at the National Arboretum on Tuesday 8 March 2022.
Launching our first event in 2022, Our International Women’s Day Breakfast was an inspiring panel of women in leadership. Panelists were Ms Pat Anderson AO, Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, Rachelle Towart OAM, Associate Professor Lisa Whop and Dr Ngaree Blow
Mr Dan Bourchier facilitated the panel.
The breakfast started with a Welcome to Country from Ngambri/Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Matilda House, followed by.
AIDA President Dr Tanya Schramm who shared AIDA’s 25 year history and her thoughts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander female leadership.
“In the span of 25 years, AIDA has gone from a handful of passionate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and medical students, to an almost 1000 plus strong network, providing peer and collegiate support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and medical students.” – Dr Tanya Schramm
Ms Holly Reynolds Student Director shared her journey into medicine and what inspired her to study to be a doctor
The highlight of the breakfast was the informative panel discussion on women in topics leadership, learnings from the COVID-19 Pandemic, raising the age of criminal responsibility, and what challenging the future looked like to them.
Pat Anderson AO on raising the age:
“A society that locks up children lacks compassion.”
On Challenging the Future:
“You have to deal with us Indigenous people, this generation has to come to terms with working with us. We aren’t going anywhere.”
Dr Ngaree Blow on the COVID-19 Pandemic:
“The Pandemic was a steep learning curve for us.”
“Right at the beginning we saw the ACCHO sector stepping up to take control of looking after our communities.”
“We had people who had lived experience in our teams, engaged with community controlled organisations and once we saw self determination play out, that’s when we saw the positive outcomes in our communities.”
Associate Professor Lisa Whop on the COVID-19 Pandemic:
“We saw some formidable black women caring for our communities during the pandemic.
The pandemic goes to show what’s possible when we all work together.
We have to care for each other the way we always have.”
Rachelle Towart OAM on leadership:
“Something we don’t hear much is people championing each other and I think that’s very important.”
Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA on leadership:
“We need to create culturally safe spaces for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in politics.”
