Kay Patterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr Kay Patterson
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Patterson in 1997
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| Minister for Family and Community Services | |
| In office 7 October 2003 – 27 January 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | Amanda Vanstone |
| Succeeded by | Mal Brough |
| Minister for Health & Ageing | |
| In office 26 November 2001 – 7 October 2003 |
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| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | Michael Wooldridge |
| Succeeded by | Tony Abbott |
| Senator for Victoria | |
| In office 11 July 1987 – 30 June 2008 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kay Christine Lesley Patterson
21 November 1944 Sydney |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney; Monash University |
| Occupation | Former politician; academic; Age Discrimination Commissioner AHRC |
Kay Christine Lesley Patterson, born on November 21, 1944, is an Australian politician who used to work in government. She was a member of the Liberal Party. She served as a Senator for Victoria from 1987 to 2008.
Contents
About Kay Patterson
Early Life and Education
Kay Patterson was born in Sydney, Australia. She went to the University of Sydney and Monash University. She studied psychology and education. This is how people learn and think.
After her studies, she became a university teacher. She taught at different universities. These included places in Australia and the United States.
Starting a Political Career
In 1985, Kay Patterson became involved in politics. She was chosen as a delegate for her local Liberal Party branch. This meant she represented her area.
In 1987, she was chosen to run for a Senate seat. She won the election that year. This made her a Senator for the state of Victoria.
Working in Government
Roles in Parliament
In 1990, Kay Patterson was given a new role. She became a parliamentary secretary. This is a helper to a government minister. Over the next few years, she worked on many important topics. These included health, care for older people, and social policies.
She was later promoted to a "Shadow Minister." This means she was part of the opposition party. She would speak about what the government should do. She focused on older citizens and women's issues.
Becoming a Minister
The Liberal Party won the election in 1996. John Howard became the Prime Minister. Kay Patterson continued her work in parliament.
In 1998, she became a Parliamentary Secretary. She helped the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Later, she also helped the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 2001, she led Australia's team to a big meeting. This was the World Conference Against Racism in South Africa.
After the 2001 election, Kay Patterson became a Minister. She was the Minister for Health and Ageing. This meant she was in charge of Australia's health system. She also looked after care for older people.
In 2003, she took on new responsibilities. She became the Minister for Family and Community Services. She also helped the Prime Minister with women's issues. In 2005, she led Australia's team to a UN meeting. This meeting was about the status of women.
Leaving Politics
In January 2006, Kay Patterson announced she would resign. She left her role as a Minister. She also said she would retire from parliament. Her term as a Senator ended in June 2008.
Community Work
University and Research
Kay Patterson has been very involved with Monash University. She was a member of its council for many years. She also held special roles there. These included being a professorial fellow. She helped with research into regenerative medicine. This is about growing new body parts. She was also given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2019.
Girl Guides and Other Groups
Kay Patterson joined the Girl Guides movement when she was 10. She stayed involved for a long time. She was part of the Victorian State Council. In 2002, she became a Life Member of Girl Guides Victoria.
She also worked with other important groups. She was a director for Interplast Australia and New Zealand. This group helps people get reconstructive surgery. She also worked with the Brockhoff Foundation.
Human Rights and Mental Health
From 2014 to 2016, she was a Commissioner. This was for the National Mental Health Commission. This group works to improve mental health in Australia.
In 2016, she was appointed as the national Age Discrimination Commissioner. This is part of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Her job is to help stop unfair treatment of people because of their age. Her appointment was extended in 2021. She also joined the Australia Post Stakeholder Council. In 2021, she became a member of the Australian Council of Elders.
Kay Patterson has also helped with workshops. These workshops teach women how to run for election. She has done this in places like Laos and the Solomon Islands. She also chaired a committee on homelessness in Victoria.
