Siedlecky, Stefania

Also known as
Siedlecky, Stefania Winifred (1921-)
Field of activity
Medical practitioner; Physician, Gynaecologist and Epidemiologist
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35117164
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-475143

Biographies

Stefania Siedlecky was one of the first two women medical officers to work at St.Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). A general practioner with a particular interest in women's health, she was influential in the development of the family planning movement in NSW, joining Family Planning NSW in 1971. In 1974 she helped set up the Leichhardt (NSW) Women's Health Centre and the Preterm Foundation, two initiatives which brought safe legal abortion to NSW. From these beginnings, she developed a national, then international, reputation. In 1986 she joined the United Nations Family Planning Assocation (UNFPA) Special Advisory Committee on Women, Population and Development and in 1988 condcuted a review of the UNFPA program in Zambia.

Stefania Siedlecky was born in Blackheath 1921, daughter of a Polish migrant. She graduated in Medicine during the war years at the beginning of the era of antibiotics and blood transfusions and was one of the first two women RMOs at St.Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. She spent nearly 30 years in general practice and was on the gynaecology staff at Rachel Forster Hospital in Sydney 1960-1974. She joined Family Planning NSW in 1971 and in 1974 helped set up the Leichhardt Women's Health Centre and the Preterm Foundation, two initiatives which brought safe legal abortion to NSW.

In 1974 she became the Consultant in Family Planning in the Commonwealth Department of Health, initially for six months, but stayed on as Senior Adviser in Family Planning and Women's Health for 12 years. She was responsible for the establishment of the Action Centre for Adolescents in Melbourne, the Warehouse and the Fairfield Multicultural Centre in Sydney, an education program in family planning, and the first National Women's Health Conference in 1975. In 1978 she took the MSc in Medical Demography at London University, and in 1979 was seconded to the organising committee for the UN Mid-Decade Conference for Women. She was a member of the Australian delegation to the UN Mid-Decade Conference (Copenhagen 1980), the International Conference on Population (Mexico 1984) and the UN End of the Decade for Women Conference (Nairobi 1985).

On retirement in 1986, she joined the UNFPA Special Advisory Committee on Women, Population and Development and in 1988 did a review of the UNFPA program in Zambia. She joined the board of the Family Planning Association in ACT and later in NSW (1987-2000) where she was President for 2 years. She set up the FP NSW Ethics Committee which she chaired from 1987 to 2000. She represented Australia on the ESEAOR Council from 1989-95 and helped to establish its women's sub- committee. In 1990, with co-author Diana Wyndham, she published, 'Populate and Perish-Australian Women's Fight for Birth Control.' She is on the Board of the Preterm Foundation and a member of several women's organisations.

In 1989 she joined Macquarie University as an Honorary Associate in Demography where she participates in epidemiological research and teaching. She has written papers on teenage pregnancy, contraceptive use and abortion and contributed to international publications. With Professor Farhat Yusuf she has published a number of papers on aspects of women's health and contraceptive use, most recently a review of 30 years of abortion in South Australia (in press).

In 1987 she was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to Women's Health.

[NB: the above biography was researched and written by Philida Sturgiss-Hoy]

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Stefania Siedlecky was one of the first two female resident medical officers at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. She spent nearly thirty years in general practice and was on the gynaecology staff at Rachel Forster Hospital in Sydney 1960-1974. While working with Family Planning New South Wales in the 1970s Siedlecky helped to establish the Leichhardt Women's Health Centre and the Preterm Foundation, two initiatives which brought safe legal abortion to New South Wales. She has written papers on teenage pregnancy, contraceptive use and abortion and has contributed to international publications.

  • 1943 Education - Medical graduate at the University of Sydney
  • 1943? - 1944? Career position - One of the first female Resident Medical Officers at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney
  • 1944? - 1971 Career position - General practice in Sydney and Blackheath
  • 1960 - 1974 Career position - Gynaecologist at the Rachel Forster Hospital, Sydney
  • 1971 - c. 1972 Career position - Worked on a casual basis with Family Planning New South Wales
  • c. 1972 - 1974 Career position - Clinical and Training Doctor at Family Planning New South Wales
  • 1974 Career position - Consultant in Family Planning at the Commonwealth Department of Health
  • 1974 - 1986 Career position - Senior Advisor in Family Planning and Women's Health at the Commonwealth Department of Health
  • 1978 Education - Master of Science (MSc) in Medical Demographics completed at London University
  • 1980 Career position - Member of the Australian delegation to the United Nations (UN) Mid-Decade Conference for Women in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 1984 Career position - Member of the Australian delegation to the International Conference on Population in Mexico City, Mexico
  • 1985 Career position - Member of the Australian delegation to the United Nations (UN) End of Decade Conference for Women in Nairobi, Kenya
  • 1986 Life event - Retired
  • 1987 Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
  • 1989 - Career position - Honorary Associate in Demography at Macquarie University, New South Wales

View the full record at Encyclopedia of Australian Science

Resources for Stefania Siedlecky

Selected resources (6)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    Series: http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html
  2. Who's who of Australian women
    Lofthouse, Andrea
    [1982]
    Published: Methuen Australia

Encyclopedia of Australian Science

  1. Siedlecky, Stefania Winifred (1921-), Biographical EntryAustralian Women's Archives Project : Siedlecky, Stefania Winifred (1921-), Biographical Entry
    [2003]
    Published: National Foundation for Australian Women
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0307b.htm
  2. Stefania SiedleckyWISENET Journal 51 June : Stefania Siedlecky
    Nagy, Noelene
    [1999]
    Series: http://www.wisenet-australia.org/ISSUE51/sedlecky.htm
  3. Health and History 6 1 135-138 :
    Siedlecky, Stefania
    [2004]
  4. National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection: Biographical cuttings on Stefania Siedlecky, Dr., medic
    Cuttings Files BIOG

Resources by Stefania Siedlecky (49)

  1. Populate and perish : Australian women's fight for birth control / Stefania Siedlecky and Diana Wyndham
    Siedlecky, Stefania
    [ Book : 1990 ]
    At 83 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 42.511)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 42.511)

  2. Sex and contraception before marriage : a study of attitudes and experience of never-married youth in Melbourne, Australia / [by] Stefania Siedlecky
    Siedlecky, Stefania
    [ Book : 1979 ]
    At 29 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.413)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 20.413)

  3. Hysterectomy and cervical cancer screening among minority women / Stefania Siedlecky
    Siedlecky, Stefania
    [ Book : 1996 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.392)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 8.392)

  4. Female sterilisation in New South Wales 1981 to 1994-1995 / Farhat Yusuf, Stefania Siedlecky and Stephen Leeder
    Yusuf, Farhat
    [ Book : 1997 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.095)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.095)

  5. Prevalence of and attitutes to abortion among migrant women in Sydney / Farhat Yusuf and Stefania Siedlecky
    Yusuf, Farhat
    [ Book : 1995 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.095)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.095)

  6. Family formation patterns among migrant women in Sydney / Farhat Yusuf and Stefania Siedlecky
    Yusuf, Farhat
    [ Book : 1995 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.095)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.095)

  7. Hysterectomy in New South Wales, 1981-1991 / Farhat Yusuf and Stefania Siedlecky
    Yusuf, Farhat
    [ Book : 1996 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.574)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.574)

  8. What is happening with teenage pregnancies? / Stephania Siedlecky
    Siedlecky, Stefania
    [ Book : 1996 ]
    At 4 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.397)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.397)

  9. Girls and Sex: Historical Reflections on the Age of Consent
    Siedlecky, Stefania
    New Doctor
    [ Article : 2004 ]
    View online
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.881)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.881)

  10. Banning Abortion: What's Going On?
    Siedlecky, Stefania
    New Doctor
    [ Article : 2007 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.88)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.88)

More...

Resources about Stefania Siedlecky (1)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Stefania Siedlecky, Dr., medic, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 24.591)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 24.591)

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    Report of the Session (NH&MRC) 1982 Oct Canberra;94 (Appendix 20):189
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  1. Pamphlet about toxic shock syndrome issued by the Commonwealth Department of Health
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  1. Tampons and toxic shock WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW...
    The Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982) Wednesday 25 February 1981 p 15 Article
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  2. Family Notices
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 14 May 1921 p 12 Family Notices
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