Welcome to the Victorian Medical Women’s Society (VMWS), a group that offers our members support, mentoring and friendship as we continue to promote the health and well-being of women and children.

We encourage members to become active to gain full benefit and enjoyment from the group. Friendships develop informally at committee and general meetings. Because our membership spans generations we can learn from each other, be inspired by each other and enjoy each other’s different perspectives. We benefit from the wisdom and experience of older members and the fresh ideas and skills of our students and younger members.

We offer members the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and increase their confidence to take on leadership roles. The Australian Federation of Medical Women’s (AFMW) “Bridging Leadership Barriers Project” has been an important part of this. Continuing this theme, student committee members form a “Shadow Cabinet” with defined roles as assistants in their portfolios of choice.

We run meetings, seminars and workshops in areas of interest to GP’s, specialists and medical students. Recent ones have included “Adventure Medicine”, “Talking to the Media”, “Leadership Skills”, “Fight like a Girl” and “How We Do What We Do”. We aim to inspire medical women to take on what they aspire to. We offer support if a member experiences sexual or other forms of harassment. This unfortunately can still be a problem in medical training and the medical workplace.

We need to look after ourselves as women doctors in order to be able to look after the health and well-being of women and children more generally. We can’t do one without the other.

The VMWS, as part of AFMW and the Australian Women’s Coalition is an important and respected partner in broader areas of women’s health. Members have recently participated in national meetings in areas including climate change, advocacy, the national women’s health policy and equal opportunity in the workforce. (Read on below for the history of VMWS).

Whilst some of our members enjoy our group principally for the services it offers, others who wish to become more involved in areas of social justice related to medical practice have the opportunity to do so through the above alliances.
I look forward to meeting you at our functions, hearing your ideas and enjoying our mutual contributions.
Best wishes,

Raie Goodwach MBBS, MPS.
President VMWS 2010

History of Victorian Medical Women's Society

The Victorian Medical Women’s Society (VMWS) was founded in September 1896 with the aim to further the professional development of medical women by education, research and improvement of professional opportunities. It promotes the health and welfare of all Australians, particularly women and children.

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