Patricia Giles

Patricia Giles
AM
Senator for Western Australia
In office
1 July 1981  30 June 1993
Personal details
Born Patricia Jessie White
16 November 1928
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Occupation Nurse

Patricia (Pat) Jessie Giles AM (née White) (born 16 November 1928) is a women's activist and former Australian Senator. She was the President of the International Alliance of Women for three terms, the last ending in 2004.

A qualified nurse, she founded the Women's Electoral Lobby branch in Perth in 1973. She also returned to study as graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1974. She later became an organizer for the Hospital Employees Union of Western Australia, and she was the first woman on the executive of the West Australian Trades and Labor Council. In 1981 she was elected as an Australian Labor Party Senator for Western Australia. During her twelve years as a senator she was active in issues related to women, she led the Australian delegation to the United Nations Decade for Women meetings in the 1980s.

Following her retirement from politics, she continued to be active in women's rights, serving three terms as president of the International Alliance of Women.

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