Inspiring Women in Science and Health at the San Hospital

Inspiring Women in Science and Health at the San Hospital

To celebrate National Science Week, over 60 Year 10 students from Pymble, Abbotsleigh and Wahroonga Adventist School participated in a program called I-WiSH, which stands for Inspiring Women in Science and Health. The program aims to inspire and stretch Year 10 girls in their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) interests by introducing them to a range of women working in, researching and leading the way in these fields.

The program was initiated by Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland under the leadership of Flinders Institute Director, Dr Louise McCuaig. In 2025, St Catherine’s (Melbourne) and Pymble Ladies’ College joined Matthew Flinders Anglican College in holding parallel events.

Pymble’s I-WiSH program invited women to be mentors and they shared their work in hospital emergency departments, palliative care, rural health, heart monitoring fabric development, mental health campaigns, antibiotic resistance and consent education with the Year 10 students. We were especially honoured to have Dr Pippa Kensit (former Head Boarder), Dr Nikki Raftopulos (former Head Prefect) and Dr Abigail Franklin (current Pymble parent) amongst the mentor team, as well as Ms Eliza Johnston (Alumni) and Dr Jim Henderson (the partner of one of our Pymble teachers) as judges. See Dr Nikki Raftopulos’s and Dr Abigail Franklin’s messages below. They’re so inspiring!

The mentor team consisted of an impressive group, namely;

  • Dr Karly Turner, Scientia Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, UNSW
  • Dr Amy-Leigh Rowe and Dr Siobhan O’Dean, Research Fellows, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
  • Dr Abigail Franklin, Palliative Care Staff Specialist, Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH)
  • Dr Pippa Kensit, Junior Medical Officer, NSW Rural Doctors Network Advisor
  • Dr Nikki Raftopulos, Basic Physician Trainee, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
  • Dr Kim Bunny, Science Teacher, Pymble Ladies’ College
  • Ms Phoenix Chick, PhD student in Medicinal Chemistry, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney
  • Dr Jawairia Khan, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Biomedical Materials and Devices, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney

After an afternoon of speed-dating to meet the mentors at Pymble, the following day was held at the San Hospital, Wahroonga. It began with a design-thinking process lead by Sarah Tyler from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Using the ANTSO process, the students worked in teams to design a solution to a challenge posed by each mentor. The San was an ideal location for the program as students had a glimpse of the range of roles in action every day and we were thankful to Judy Tanna, Director of the San Foundation, for making the opportunity possible.

 

Photos of Dr Amy-Leigh Rowe and Dr Siobhan O’Dean; Dr Karly Turner; Dr Jawairia Khan; Ms Sarah Tyler; Dr Pippa Kensit; Dr Nikki Raftopulos

The winning group tackled the social challenge of how early intervention and preventative public health strategies can be part of consent education, especially in a climate when male influencers are spreading negative messages. Other pitches presented decision making apps for doctors, jewellery to monitor heart conditions, inclusive STEM education strategies, support for renal patients in remote areas and designing palliative care with adolescents in mind.

Congratulations to students from all the schools who worked very hard and presented inspiring and powerful pitches to the judging panel and the Pymble staff team who ran the event.

A short video about Pymble’s I-WiSH program can be viewed below.

What did students say about I-WiSH?

The collaborative program between the three schools was a great way to build teamwork skills amongst new individuals and was a really fun opportunity to deepen our understandings on science and health.

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and found it valuable to work together with students from other schools as well as receive mentorship from various inspiring speakers

I really enjoyed meeting the mentors and learning more about unique science and health issues in Australia. Even though it was very fast paced, I really enjoyed the challenges we were given.

We look forward to the 2026 program as we continue to work in partnership with Matthew Flinders Anglican College and other schools making a difference to girls’ STEM education through I-WiSH.

Pymble Ladies’ College Alumni and Parents working in Science and Health fields who are interested in being WiSH mentors and judges are warmly invited to contact Sarah Loch, sloch@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au for more information.