Friday, 7 March 2025
Celebrating Women in Sonography | Reflections on International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a time to recognise the contributions, achievements, and ongoing challenges faced by women in all fields, including healthcare and sonography. It is an opportunity to celebrate progress while acknowledging the work still needed to achieve true equity in leadership, education, and professional opportunities.
In honour of International Women’s Day 2025, we spoke with three accomplished sonographers—Lindsay Groves, Ali Deslandes, and Lisa Hackett—who shared their perspectives on the significance of this day, the women who have influenced their journeys, and their hopes for future generations. Their insights highlight the resilience, dedication, and impact of women in sonography and beyond.
Lindsay Groves
Why is it important to celebrate International Women's Day?
It’s important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the incredible women who have created and implemented positive change for women of today and future generations.
Who are the women who have impacted your life, either professionally or personally?
Family members are an obvious impact personally, such as my mum, older sister and both grandmothers. Professionally, it would be previous lecturers, tutors and current colleagues.
What is your hope for the future generation of women?
That they realise their full potential and capabilities. That they can achieve great things with the right attitude and influences in their lives- which could lead to potential change and sustainability of achievements from other great women.
Ali Deslandes, FASA
Why is it important to celebrate International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is a time to recognise and celebrate the contributions of women across all fields, highlight the ongoing fight for gender equality, and raise awareness of the challenges that still exist. In healthcare, women have made significant strides, but disparities in leadership, research representation, and access to care remain. Celebrating this day helps to acknowledge progress, inspire change, and ensure that future generations of women have the opportunities they deserve.
Who are the women who have impacted your life, either professionally or personally?
I’ve been fortunate to work alongside and learn from some incredible women. Prof Louise Hull, my research mentor and PhD supervisor, has been instrumental in shaping my academic and professional journey. She also taught me the meaning of the term Boss Lady!
My clinical boss Catrina Panuccio is also a huge inspiration. She’s been extremely successful as a business woman and sonographer in a field where both women, and sonographers still face many glass ceilings.
What is your hope for the future generation of women?
I hope the future generation of women will have true equity in healthcare, research, and leadership—not just in numbers but in meaningful representation. I want to see a world where women’s health is a priority, where conditions like endometriosis are no longer dismissed, and where young women in sonography and medical research feel empowered to lead, innovate, and challenge the status quo. Most importantly, I hope that gender is never a barrier to success, and that women everywhere have the confidence and support to pursue their ambitions without limitations.
Lisa Hackett, FASA
Why is it important to celebrate International Women's Day?
International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2025, represents a collective of women from the past, present, and future. Australia's first International Women’s Day in 1928, organised by the Militant Women’s Movement, called for equal pay, an eight-hour workday for shop girls, and paid leave – thank you!!!
Celebrated annually on March 8th, International Women's Day highlights women's rights and addresses issues like gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women. Rooted in early 20th-century labor and suffrage movements, it remains relevant today.
Women possess innate strength, resilience, kindness, curiosity, faith, and compassion, qualities that endure in 2025.
As a woman, International Women's Day holds profound significance, celebrating achievements and addressing ongoing challenges in gender equality. It highlights critical issues such as gender-based violence, workplace discrimination, and barriers to education and healthcare, advocating for change.
This day honours women's invaluable contributions to history, culture, and society, inspiring future generations to overcome challenges and drive progress. International Women's Day fosters global unity among women, symbolising a commitment to a fair and inclusive future.
In 2025, the struggles and triumphs of past women remain relevant, laying the groundwork for future success. This legacy of resilience, courage, and advocacy continues to empower and inspire, ensuring progress toward equality and opportunity.
Who are the women who have impacted your life, either professionally or personally?
Lee Miller – first female war correspondent in WW2.
Olivia and Eliza Salvatori, my nieces who have survived the tragic death of their mother at a very young age and have become women of resilience, courage and compassion.
Gina Reinhart – the epitome of a “trailblazer”.
What is your hope for the future generation of women?
My hope for future generations of women is that they remain endlessly curious, boldly pursue their dreams, speak their truth with unwavering courage, and celebrate the strength and beauty of their femininity.
May they draw inspiration from remarkable women like Marie Curie, who revolutionised science; Malala Yousafzai, who bravely advocates for girls' education; Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who tirelessly fought for gender equality; and Indigenous Australian women like Truganini, who showed resilience in the face of immense challenges; Gladys Elphick, who was a pioneering community leader; and Fanny Cochrane Smith, who preserved her culture through song.
Together, let us inspire, support and uplift each other, creating a world where every woman can shine brightly.