Ambulance Victoria women recognised in IWD honours
March 8, 2025in News
Nine women from Ambulance Victoria (AV) have been recognised as part of International Women’s Day honours from the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) and the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF).
AV’s Rebecca Quarrier, Dr Megan Dobbie, Sarah Bennett, Dearne Stewart and Maree Pulis have been added to the 2025 CAA Women in Ambulance Honour Roll.
The honour highlights successful and hardworking women in ambulance services across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and looks to empower and inspire future generations to step into ambulance careers and progress into leadership roles and management levels.
L-R: Dearne Stewart, Dr Megan Dobbie, Sarah Bennett and Rebecca Quarrier.
Rebecca Quarrier is a dedicated paramedic, acting team manager, educator and mentor to both paramedics and first responders.
She was recognised for her passion in fostering a supportive and empowering team environment, in which she actively recognises and promotes the individual strengths and skills of her colleagues, supporting them to achieve their full potential.
Dr Megan Dobbie is a clinical psychologist with over 25 years’ experience, 15 of those leading mental health services and promoting continuous improvement across public and private hospital settings, and consulting to a broad range of emergency services.
She provides strategic direction, clinical oversight and advice to guide the ongoing requirement for integrated mental health and wellbeing program design and delivery for AV.
Sarah Bennett has been a paramedic with AV for more than 12 years, dedicating her entire career to working in rural areas and providing best care to regional Victorians.
She is a passionate advocate for inclusion and diversity, and positive workplace cultures, and aims to lead and empower those around her to achieve their own personal and professional goals, especially young women and mums returning to the workplace.
Dearne Stewart was responsible for the development of the Adult Retrieval Victoria Information System (ARVIS), the Retrieval and Critical Health Information System (REACH), and the Trauma Victoria project which involved development of the Trauma Victoria website and Learning Management System, containing revised major trauma guidelines and education for the Victorian State Trauma system.
Maree Pulis is an advocate for all members of AV to become they best they can be, demonstrated through supporting professional development and networking workshops for women in ambulance.
Maree worked with national industry leaders and members of Parliament to establish fair and equitable processes for the allocation of shifts for part-time operational staff in line with enterprise bargaining agreement obligations and flexible work policies.
AV’s winner and nominees at the ESF Diversity and Inclusion Awards.
Earlier this week, another four AV women were nominated at the ESF Diversity and Inclusion Awards.
These awards are an initiative dedicated to recognising and celebrating leading practice in promoting inclusion and gender diversity among ESF’s 15 member agencies.
Strathbogie Paramedic Community Support Coordinator Norieul Kinross was named 2025 Diversity and Inclusion Champion for her work in supporting culturally and racially discriminated communities to access accurate health resources in collaboration with community leaders and elders.
AV’s Jenna Kelley, Corinne Erle and Michelle Crilly were nominees in the categories of Diversity and Inclusion Champion and Women’s Equality Initiative.
International Women’s Day is recognised annually on 8 March and celebrates far-reaching achievements of women, and calls for continued progress towards gender equality.
This year’s theme of March Forward calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all where no one is left behind.