Kay Patterson
Encyclopedia
Kay Christine Lesley Patterson (born 21 November 1944) is a former Australian politician. She was a Liberal
member of the Australian Senate
from 1987 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria
.
Patterson was born in Sydney and was educated at the University of Sydney
and Monash University
. She studied psychology and education, going on to become a university lecturer, working in several universities in both Australia and in the United States.
In 1985, Patterson was elected as her local party branch delegate to the Liberal Party's State Council. In 1987, when she was pre-selected for a Liberal Senate seat, becoming a senator for the state of Victoria at the 1987 election.
Patterson was promoted to the shadow ministry in 1990 as a parliamentary secretary. Over the next few years, she occupied a number of portfolios in relation to health, aged care and social policy. She was promoted again (Shadow Minister for Senior Citizens and Aged Care and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Women’s Affairs and the Arts) under the leadership of John Hewson
, but was demoted to a shadow parliamentary secretary position under Alexander Downer
.
The Liberal Party was returned to power at the 1996 election under John Howard
. In 1998 Patterson was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs In 2000 she was given the additional responsibility of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The following year, Patterson led the Australian delegation to the World Conference Against Racism
in Durban
, South Africa.
At the 2001 election, the Health and Aged Care Minister
Michael Wooldridge
retired, and Senator Patterson was appointed as his replacement, with the new portfolio title of Health and Ageing. She was well received by the Australian Medical Association
, who had had a strained relationship with her predecessor.
In 2003, in a major reshuffle, she was re-appointed as a Cabinet minister to the portfolio of Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues.
On 22 January 2006, Patterson announced her resignation from the ministry, and her commission ceased on 27 January. She also announced that she would retire, and left parliament at the expiration of her term in June 2008.
Patterson was a member of Monash University Council (1978–1998) and in September 2008, she was appointed a Vice Chancellor's Professorial Fellow at the University.
Patterson remains involved with the Girl Guides movement
which she joined when she was 10. She was a member of the Victorian State Council (1974–1991, 1993–1999)and State Executive 1974–1995). She was made a Life Member of Girls Guides Victoria in 2002.
She became a Director and Member of the Board of Interplast Australia and New Zealand in 2006 (Vice President 2009) and a Director of the Brockhoff Foundation in 2008. She was appointed an advisor to www.helpinghero.com in 2008.
Patterson was inducted into Monash University Golden Key Society as an Honorary Member in 2009
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1987 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
Patterson was born in Sydney and was educated at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. She studied psychology and education, going on to become a university lecturer, working in several universities in both Australia and in the United States.
In 1985, Patterson was elected as her local party branch delegate to the Liberal Party's State Council. In 1987, when she was pre-selected for a Liberal Senate seat, becoming a senator for the state of Victoria at the 1987 election.
Patterson was promoted to the shadow ministry in 1990 as a parliamentary secretary. Over the next few years, she occupied a number of portfolios in relation to health, aged care and social policy. She was promoted again (Shadow Minister for Senior Citizens and Aged Care and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Women’s Affairs and the Arts) under the leadership of John Hewson
John Hewson
John Robert Hewson AM is an Australian economist, company director and a former politician. He was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 1990 to 1994 and led the party to defeat at the 1993 federal election.-Early life:...
, but was demoted to a shadow parliamentary secretary position under Alexander Downer
Alexander Downer
Alexander John Gosse Downer is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history...
.
The Liberal Party was returned to power at the 1996 election under John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
. In 1998 Patterson was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs In 2000 she was given the additional responsibility of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The following year, Patterson led the Australian delegation to the World Conference Against Racism
World Conference against Racism
The World Conference against Racism are international events organised by the UNESCO to struggle against racism ideologies and behaviours. Four conferences have been held so far, in 1978, 1983, 2001 and 2009...
in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa.
At the 2001 election, the Health and Aged Care Minister
Minister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon...
Michael Wooldridge
Michael Wooldridge
Michael Richard Lewis Wooldridge is an Australian doctor, company director, and a former politician. He was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Liberal Party representing the Division of Chisholm, Victoria, between 1987 and 1996, and representing the Division of Casey,...
retired, and Senator Patterson was appointed as his replacement, with the new portfolio title of Health and Ageing. She was well received by the Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
, who had had a strained relationship with her predecessor.
In 2003, in a major reshuffle, she was re-appointed as a Cabinet minister to the portfolio of Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues.
On 22 January 2006, Patterson announced her resignation from the ministry, and her commission ceased on 27 January. She also announced that she would retire, and left parliament at the expiration of her term in June 2008.
Patterson was a member of Monash University Council (1978–1998) and in September 2008, she was appointed a Vice Chancellor's Professorial Fellow at the University.
Patterson remains involved with the Girl Guides movement
Guides Australia
Girl Guides Australia is the national Guiding organisation in Australia. It provides a girls only space and its mission is to enable girls and young women to grow into confident, self respecting members of the community. Membership is open to all girls and young women from all cultures, faiths and...
which she joined when she was 10. She was a member of the Victorian State Council (1974–1991, 1993–1999)and State Executive 1974–1995). She was made a Life Member of Girls Guides Victoria in 2002.
She became a Director and Member of the Board of Interplast Australia and New Zealand in 2006 (Vice President 2009) and a Director of the Brockhoff Foundation in 2008. She was appointed an advisor to www.helpinghero.com in 2008.
Patterson was inducted into Monash University Golden Key Society as an Honorary Member in 2009