The Maternal Health Task Force at EngenderHealth and Ashoka are offering a brand new type of opportunity to the global Changemakers community and invite you to enter your solution for maternal health.

The Young Champions of Maternal Health Program will use the Changemakers online platform to identify 16 young leaders – called Young Champions – from around the world who will win a trip to the Maternal Health Change Summit and then spend nine months working abroad on a maternal health project while being mentored by a seasoned Ashoka Fellow in the field of maternal health.

HealthEd provides education seminars for health professionals in the areas of women and children’s health. The 2010 program schedule is now available. Brief details are available at www.jeanhailes.org.au/content/view/813/730/

For further detail on HealthEd events in your capital city or to register for a HealthEd session go to www.healthed.com.au

Recently the Department of Health and Ageing provided funding to the National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Alliance and the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women's Health to develop a suite of evidence based guidelines for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. All of these guidelines will be proposed for National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and international approval.

The evidence based guideline development process includes a 4 week period of stakeholder and public consultation into the draft guidelines scope and your feedback into the document is welcome. To view the guidelines draft scope or to complete the feedback survey, click here.

UNFPA and WEDO have developed a comprehensive resource kit on gender, population and climate change. Learn how gender equality can reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts and how women are uniquely positioned to help curb the harmful consequences of a changing climate. Click here to visit the UNFPA website and learn more.

Welcome all to 2010! I hope you have all enjoyed a happy, safe and fulfilling Festive Season and that the next year is a good one for you. AFMW was busy in 2009 and our busy schedule culminated in the AGM which we shared with the Victorian Medical Women’s Society. We were privileged to have as our Constance Stone Speaker Dr. Sally Cockburn (Dr. Feelgood) and who left us all inspired after her riveting and passionate talk.

The AFMW AGM reports for 2009 are available on our website. We have endeavoured this year to ensure you are aware of all AFMW has been doing for you, as well as what the State Societies are up to. Given our size and resources, we are making a considerable contribution to issues affecting medical professionals – in particular women doctors – and issues pertaining to the health of women and children. A summary of our activities is listed below.