PHAA
The PHAA Women’s Health Special Interest Group (SIG) has historically been one of our most active SIGs, with past Co-Convenors including women’s public health experts like Professor Angela Dawson, Dr Geraldine Vaughan, and Pip Buckingham.
In the first of a Q&A blog series on new 2022 PHAA SIG convenors, we spoke to Dr Amie Steel, an active PHAA member who, in 2022, leads the PHAA Women’s Health SIG with fellow Co-Convenor, Dr Abela Mahimbo. Read on for more from Dr Steel.
Name, title/position, and summary of Public Health career trajectory to date.
Dr Amie Steel, Senior Research Fellow, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney.
I completed my PhD in Public Health in 2013 and have been employed as a full-time research academic since that time. In my role I have liaised with non-government organisations and government departments, and have collaborated with researchers from all over the world.
Who has been the person that most influenced your career path, and how?
Distinguished Professor Jon Adams has been an incredible support and mentor throughout my academic career. He has encouraged me to follow my passions while offering me opportunities to extend my skills and grow as an academic along the way.
Greatest achievement to date
Teaching myself French (I am still very bad but can now muddle my way through one of my favourite novels, “A Discovery of Witches”, or “Le Livre Perdu Des Sortilèges”, by Deborah Harkness).
Why did you volunteer to become an office bearer in this Branch/SIG?
I am passionate about improving the quality of health services and outcomes for women across their life-course, particularly through improved continuity of care and health promotion from preconception through to postnatal care. And I know that organisations like PHAA are only successful because people step up and commit their time.
What are your goals or priorities for your branch/SIG during your term?
To help ensure the unique needs of female-sexed and female-gendered people are considered in health policies, particularly given some of the historic and nationally important strategies and plans released in the last couple of years (and some underway).
Favourite quote or life lesson?
We flourish in and out when the little things we love are reflected throughout the big picture we create
Read the Women’s Health SIG policy position statements here.
Recent submissions that the Women’s Health SIG contributed to include:
Submission to the TGA on Proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard (oral contraceptives) – ACMS
Read more on Women’s Health topics on Intouch:
Uniquely precarious: Temporary visa holders experiencing domestic violence