The Honourable Dr Mary Crawford AM was the third Queensland woman to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to public policy and gender equality.
During her time in parliament, Dr Crawford joined the Status of Women Committee in the active pursuit of equal pay, universal superannuation, entry of mature women into tertiary education, childcare and women’s health services. She also chaired the Crawford Committee working to ensure that childcare was affordable and readily available so women could enter the paid workforce.
Dr Crawford championed and established many community programmes including the first women’s only Job Clubs, the Logan campus of Griffith University, Logan TAFE, aged care programmes, childcare centres and community organisations such as the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association and the Islamic Women’s Association of Queensland.
In 2020, Dr Crawford was awarded an AM for her service to the education of women and to the Parliament of Australia. She continues to advocate for gender equity, notably throughout the Duchesne College Create Change Create Wise Women Campaign.
What are the top 3 items on your bucket list right now?
“Keep healthy, active and curious!”
Can you tell us about your time at Duchesne College?
“It was a wonderful experience. It provided a supportive environment in which to grow and develop. Some of my closest friends are from those days and we are still in touch. It was an opportunity to fully live a university life with others who were interested in exploring new ideas and thinking about the world in which we all live.”
