VICDOC Autumn 2023 - Magazine - Page 23
PERSONAL
OUTLOOK
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A VERY AMBITIOUS
WOMAN IN THE TIME BEFORE WOMEN IN INDIA
COULD BE AMBITIOUS, SO SHE PASSED HER
AMBITIONS ON TO HER DAUGHTERS
AND GRANDDAUGHTERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE
WE DIDN’T NEED A DAY LIKE INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN’S DAY, BUT SADLY, WE DO.
The UN estimates that achieving full
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She found herself on the wrong side of the
border between India and Pakistan on the
eve of partition in 1947. She bravely joined
the wave of migration that headed across
the border, to make a new life. Both her
daughters went to university, and as the
oldest granddaughter, I grew up with her
plan for my life, which was to be a doctor.
I HAD TO START MY CAREER FROM SCRATCH
WHEN I MOVED FROM INDIA TO THE UK, AND
AGAIN WHEN I MOVED TO AUSTRALIA.
This is because the UK and Australian
medical systems only recognise specialist
doctors who are trained within their own
systems. It’s very western-centric and there
are many hurdles to be overcome before
a doctor can practice as a specialist. I’m
proud that I was able to start over in not
one but two countries and build my
career to a senior leadership level.
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gender equity is still centuries away!
There are many, many things that need
to change and we can’t and shouldn’t wait
for hundreds of years. We need pay parity
between men and women. We need to
work seriously toward eliminating violence
against women. We can’t do this without
men stepping up and being allies and
champions. We must move beyond
women just surviving to women
thriving in every way.
MANY OF THE DECISIONS MADE FOR WOMEN
OF COLOUR IN AUSTRALIA ARE MADE
WITHOUT THEIR INPUT.
This is an issue because the solutions
being developed are not always a good fit.
Without the input of people with lived
experience, it’s unlikely that solutions
will ever be a good fit. I am a big fan of
‘Nothing about us without us’, and I am
working very hard in all my areas of activity
and influence to ensure there is a seat at
every table for women of colour.
PLEASE DON’T EVER DISCOURAGE A PERSON
— ESPECIALLY A WOMAN, OF COLOUR FROM
APPLYING FOR ADVANCEMENT.
At various points in my career, I was
advised by senior medical leaders to not
apply for graduate training programs or
leadership positions. The subtext was
that as an IMG and a woman of colour
there wasn’t any point; that I wouldn’t be
admitted. Well, here I am, proving that this
is incorrect. I would like my legacy to be
showing other migrant women and women
of colour that they can do whatever it is
they want to do, including taking on
senior leadership positions.
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