Meet Dr Bond, early career psychiatrist, Director of Clinical Training and Psychiatry Registrars as Chief Training Supervisor at her health service and an International Medical Graduate (IMG) from the UK.

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself

I am an IMG who moved to Australia from the UK in 2017 with my young family, seeking adventure. We quickly fell in love with the country and decided to settle in regional Queensland. I specialise in eating disorders and am deeply committed to medical education. 

Balancing my professional and personal life as a mother of three, I aspire to provide a supportive and inclusive environment both in my clinical practice and in my education roles.

2) What does it mean to you to be a woman in psychiatry?

Being a woman in medicine, training in psychiatry, and now as a psychiatrist and emerging medical leader has meant different things at different times. There have been periods when being a woman in medicine has offered opportunities and even therapeutic advantages. At other times, I have witnessed and experienced misogyny, relying on mentors and supervisors to stay on track. Of course, there have also been times when being a woman has had little bearing on my work – which I acknowledge is a privileged position compared to some colleagues, particularly internationally.

Now, as an emerging medical leader, I consider it a responsibility and great privilege to represent women in medicine and psychiatry and to promote broader diversity, equity, and inclusion.

3) The theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is “March Forward: From Promises to Progress.” In your view, is psychiatry making progress toward this goal?

Psychiatry has certainly made progress toward gender equity, but we cannot rely on past successes to guarantee continued benefits from hard-won gains. While women are increasingly well represented in medicine and psychiatry, inequity in leadership positions persists. Globally, women’s rights continue to be threatened or lost, which can embolden those who believe in restricting the role of women in society.

It is important to recognize that while great strides have been made for women, many other vulnerable groups remain marginalized. Women in psychiatry have an important role in elevating the voices of these broader groups and showing solidarity. We are well positioned to influence and support initiatives that protect the mental health of our diverse population, promote diversity within our profession, and ensure accessibility of our services to all people. 

The march is not over – we need to continue advocating for ourselves and for vulnerable others who need their voices lifted in a climate where progress can be fragile and easily reversed.