Motorsport Australia is proud to have supported a delegation of female Australian senior medical officials who were integrated into the medical team for this year’s Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix.
 
This initiative is a result of a collaboration between the Singapore GP Organising Committee, Motorsport Australia and the global FIA "Women in Motor Sport" campaign which is aimed at enhancing gender diversity in the sport. 
 
The delegation consisted of five senior medical officials including Dr Jen Coleman and Dr Tamara Johnson, as well as nurses Natalie Borg, Phoebe Garrett and Jessica Gondek.
 
Ahead of the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, the woman had a combined 26 years of Formula 1 medical team experience, with their venture to the popular event giving them the new experience of the Singaporean approach. 
 
One of the five women to get the unique opportunity of attending the Singapore Grand Prix, Dr Coleman, who is also the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, was highly complimentary of the initiative.


“This has been an extraordinary opportunity for our senior medical officials to observe the Singapore medical team and be able to develop ideas and programs that we will bring back to Australia,” Dr Coleman said.
 
“Opportunities like this are so important to foster the relationships between medical teams, where we are already seeing a greater percentage of women participating, but also to promote Motorsport medicine in general.
 
“By increasing our exposure to different race environments, we can target research to make the sport safer, from grassroots to the elite Formula 1 level."
 
Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations Michael Smith was pleased to see the five women excel in the initiative that promotes women in motorsport and identifies potential future career opportunities for role models and ambassadors.
 
“Motorsport Australia is committed to seeing more people enjoying more motorsport more often – and that includes our dedicated medical crews who are a vital part of delivering our sport,” Smith said.
 
“Through terrific programs like this, we are able to make sure that those involved in all aspects of motorsport have an opportunity to develop their skills, learn world’s best practice and experience world-class events.
 
“The opportunity to collaborate with the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and its world-class medical team provides Australian medical crews even more opportunities to grow and bring back their learnings to implement at Australian motorsport events, right through from the grassroots level to our national and international events.”


Having also been in attendance in Singapore, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Chief Medical Officer. Dr Brent May echoed Smith’s comments .
 
"The dedication and enthusiasm of these amazing senior medical officials is so impressive,” Dr May said.
 
“They will no doubt use this experience to further enhance our own systems within the medical team and I am told we will be considering the addition of a karaoke machine to morning briefings.
 
“We appreciate the support of Singapore GP Chief Medical Officer, Dr Lim Kay Kiat, and his whole medical team as well as Janette Tan, Director of Race Operations for the Singapore GP"
 
The FIA Women in Motor Sport Commission is committed to promoting the participation of women at all levels within motorsport and aims to alter pre-existing stereotypes and encourage more women to consider careers in the industry, both on and off the track.
 
The medical team has been proudly leading the way in the last few years with women making up 43 per cent of the 2023 Australian F1 medical team, and 53 per cent of the Singaporean Medical team.