International Women’s Day (IWD) held each year on 8 March is a day to promote equality for women’s social, political and working rights. The day provides women, often divided by national boundaries and cultural, economic and political differences with an opportunity to come together to discuss issues and celebrate achievements. It is also a day that challenges all Australians to decide the quality of the legacy to be passed onto future generations of working women. On Monday, 8 March 2021 IEU-QNT Chapters are encouraged to demonstrate their support for this year’s UN Women theme: #womenlead.
2021 Focus: #womenlead
This year’s theme, #womenlead, celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future, particularly in light of COVID-19. Across the globe, women are leading organisations and institutions carrying out effective and inclusive COVID-19 responses, from the highest levels of decision-making through to frontline service delivery. Women bring different experiences, perspectives, and skills to the table, and make invaluable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all. More information about this year’s theme and the challenges facing women in leadership can be found on the UN Women website.
2021 Online Women’s Conference: Be BOLD for Change
As part of our 2021 International Women’s Day celebrations, we are pleased to announce our 2021 online Women’s Conference, Be BOLD for Change! This free conference will be held on Thursday 19 August and will give women from all over Queensland and the Northern Territory the opportunity to talk, learn and reflect on the issues that matter in our sector.
The conference invites women members to engage with the Building Our Leadership Development (BOLD) program and will feature a range of workshops about empowering women at work – including leadership development, reproductive health and mental health campaigns and taking action to build respectful workplaces. Members in schools with union development leave will be able to access this leave to attend the conference. If you are unsure whether you have access to this leave, please contact your organiser. The full program will be launched in late March. To secure your place at the conference, please register here.
Chapter Action
Chapters are asked to support a collective culture in school workplaces by organising Chapter activities such as:
- hold a celebratory IWD morning tea on Monday, 8 March 2021;
- hang our IWD poster in your staff room;
- provide a photo of Chapter celebrations for inclusion in our media (please email these to communications@ieuqnt.org.au);
- urge your colleagues to join us (or to renew their union membership);
- join our union’s Equity Committee (email your interest to briefing@ieuqnt.org.au); or
- Register your interest in attending our August 2021 Women’s Conference here.
Happy International Women’s Day!
