INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ROUNDUP
Events, Festivals and Breakfasts...oh wow!
We might have been super busy with CSW in New York, but we were just as busy on this side of the world, celebrating this years' International Women's Day!
#MeToo But What Can We Do (Adelaide and Darwin)
Both the events in Adelaide and Darwin were big hits, striking a chord with attendees and providing an opportunity for women to network and reflect on our progress in addressing and preventing sexual harassment. There was a buzz from the packed crowd, and insightful and passionate discussions on our how far we've come and the work ahead of us!
Our incredible panel in Adelaide consisted of Equal Opportunity Commssioner Niki Vincent, Attorney General & Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman, CEO of Women's Legal Services Zita Ngor, and Playwright and Performer Laura Desmond. In Darwin, the panel was moderated by our very own Laura Burfitt from the Young Women's Council, and consisted of the NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sally Sievers, NT Working Women Centre's Director Rachael Uebergang, and lawyer and community advocate Aditi Srinivas.
Take-home messages from these passionate speakers included encouraging women to report and use the legal avenues available, push for both structural and cultural change, and support other women to increase leadership and diversity!
"'#MeToo But What Can We Do?" Adelaide was proudly supported by the City of Adelaide.
Out of this World: Navigating the Innovation Galaxy (Sydney)
More than 100 guests, mostly young women, attended our International Women’s Day event in Sydney: “Out of this World: Navigating the Innovation Galaxy” with the esteemed Dr Megan Clark AC – Head of the newly formed Australian Space Agency.
This conversation-style event was led by Janice Dang, Head of Global Transaction Services Australia, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and covered Dr Clark’s diverse career journey in the male-dominated STEM and business world. It was exciting to hear about the potential for interplanetary travel, colonisation and space tourism. Dr Clark’s passion for learning new things and approaching life with a sense of curiosity and discovery was really inspiring!
“At the Australian Space Agency, we all want to understand more. Don’t be afraid to learn new things,” said Dr Clark.
This event was proudly supported by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and is part of our Y Connect program which encourages young women to develop personally and professionally through exposure to social issues and leadership opportunities.
Lismore Women's Festival (NSW)
 Lismore Women’s Festival is a yearly event held in March to celebrate, empower, support, skill-up and network women in conjunction with International Women's Day. This year, YWCA Australia held the third festival over nine days. There were 70 activities under the festival umbrella, which included including yoga, mindfulness, dance, singing, art-making, exhibitions, music, cabaret; workshops on parenting, nutrition, success, nature, carpentry, finance; panels on domestic violence, feminism, refugees, and film-making.
The festival generated loads of positive feedback, proving that it is well-loved and filling a need. We can't wait for next year's festival!
Morning Tea @ Kantar
As part of International Women's Day, global company KANTAR held morning tea events across their offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and invited YWCA Australia to speak about the work we do across the country. We’re looking forward to building a relationship with Kantar to leverage their significant expertise in research, data and insights to benefit women and girls across Australia.
"It has been a resounding success!! We have had great feedback on all your presenters. The fact that we at Kantar are working with one national Australian organisation has had a huge impact with our people. The stories your people shared were inspiring and the work you do for women across Australia is invaluable. Together we struck a chord with everyone today!"- Kim Ruyten, Director – Strategic Engagement (KANTAR)
IWD Breakfasts (Delicious and Inspiring!)
 Every year, there are many breakfasts around the world celebrating women. Our Adelaide staff attended the UN Women's Breakfast where we met and chatted with Labor leader Bill Shorten while in Darwin our fabulous ladies attended the inaugural No Woman Left Behind conference!
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In solidarity. Our hearts break for Muslim communities and the Aotearoa people with news of this horrific terrorist attack on our NZ cousins. Everyone should be safe within their places of worship, in their homes and out in the streets. We strongly condemn the acts of these terrorists. Terrorism has no place within our society, and no one should ever be a target of someone else’s hatred. Our hearts break for Muslim communities and the Aotearoa people and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this act of violence, and we stand in love and solidarity with our Muslim and Aotearoa sisters and communities in weathering this storm.
