Ms. Kay PATTERSON

Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues

Liberal Senator for Victoria
   

 PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE

• July 1987
  elected to the Senate for Victoria. Re-elected in March 1990, March 1996 and
  October 2001.

• April 1990 – 1993
  Parliamentary Secretary to the Chairman of the Opposition Social Policy and
  Health Group.

• April 1993 – May 1994
  Shadow Minister for Senior Citizens and Aged Care, and Shadow Minister Assisting
   the Leader on Women’s Affairs and the Arts.

• May 1994 – February 1995
  Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow
  Minister for Community Services, Senior Citizens and Aged Care.

• February 1995 – March 1996
  Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow
  Minister for Health and Human Services.

• May 1997 – November 1998
  Chairman, Conference for Older Australians.
• Victorian representative on the Women’s Parliamentary Advisory Group.

• 1997
  Parliamentary Adviser to the Australian Mission to the United Nations General Assembly.

• July – October 1998
  Consultant to Ministerial Advisory Group for National Strategy for an Ageing Australia.

• October 1998 – November 2001
  Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

• February 2000 – November 2001

  Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

• August – September 2001
  Head of Delegation to the World Conference Against Racism.

• November 2001 – October 2003
  Minister for Health and Ageing.

• October 2003 – October 2004
   Minister for Family and Community Services,
   Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women.

• October 2004 – 
  Minister for Family and Community Services,
  Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE SERVICE

• 24 September 1987 – 8 May 1990 Scrutiny of Bills.

• 24 September 1987 – February 1991 Employment, Education & Training.
  June 1990 – 1991 and May 1996 – June 1996 Deputy Chairman.

• 25 February 1988 – 30 June 1993, and May 1996 – October 1998
  Regulations & Ordinances Committee.

• November 1989 delegate to the Third Commonwealth Conference on 
  Delegated Legislation, London.

• 1991 – 1996 Senate Estimates Committee.

• 1994 – 1998 Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee.

• April 1996 – October 1998 Temporary Chairman of Committees.

• May 1996 – October 1998 Chairman, Government Social Security Committee.

• May 1996 – October 1998 Chairman, Environment, Recreation, Communications
  and the Arts Legislation Committee.

• December 1996 – January 1997 Observer, Australian Antarctic Division Voyage.
   Visited all Australian bases and Zhong Shan, the Chinese Antarctic Base.

• May 1996 – October 1998 Member, Commonwealth Parliamentary Internships 
  Program Steering Committee.

• May 1998 – October 1998 Member, Senate Community Affairs References Committee.

QUALIFICATIONS

BA [Hons] [Syd], PhD, Dip Ed [Monash], MAPsS.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• 1977 – 1983 Lecturer, School of Behavioural Sciences,
   Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences.

• 1983 – 1985 Senior Lecturer, School of Behavioural Sciences,
   Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences.

• 1986-1987 Principal Lecturer and Chairman, School of Behavioural Sciences,
   Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences.

The School of Behavioural Sciences offered courses to Speech, Physio and Occupational Therapists, Orthoptists, Medical Record Administrators, Prosthetists and Orthotists, Nurses and Podiatrists. Senator Patterson taught general introductory psychology, research methods and human development, in particular the developmental aspects of adulthood and ageing.

• 1983 Kellogg Fellow and Visiting Scholar at the University of Michigan.

• 1985 four months as Visiting Fellow at Pennsylvania State University.

On both the above trips Senator Patterson studied gerontology – the study of ageing. She was a co-ordinator of the development of the Diploma of Gerontology at Lincoln Institute – the first postgraduate training to be offered in this area in Victoria.

Prior to working at the Lincoln Institute Senator Patterson taught at Monash University for three years and at the University of Sydney for one year. Before attending university the Senator attended Secretarial College for a year, followed by two years of secretarial work and two years managing a small duplicating and copying business. Senator Patterson returned to school before her 15th birthday in a special one-year program, matriculated and was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to the University of Sydney.

GENERAL ACTIVITES AND INTERESTS

• 1978 – 1998 Member of Monash University Council and associated committees
   [elected by graduates of the university].

• Member of the Australian Association of Gerontology.

• Member of the Gerontological Society of America.

• Guides Association Victoria
             1974 – 1985 Member of State Executive 
             1974 – 1991 Member of State Council
             1993 - 1999 Member of State Council
             1988 – 1991 represented the Association overseas, 1963 Mexico, 
             1996 Hawaii and 1981 World Conference in France.

• 1991 – 2000 Member, National Council of the Scout Association.

• Hobbies: bicycling, swimming, walking, reading and woodwork.