tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75330582981728331852024-02-08T16:06:17.309+11:00National Council of Women Victoria: Hot TopicsNCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-85178098759342592372023-10-15T14:54:00.001+11:002023-10-15T14:54:16.092+11:00Students Took Over Parliament - inspiring!! <p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">My Vote My Voice, Mon 7 August 2023; 9:15am-12:45pm</span></b></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The outstanding annual student event <strong>My Vote My Voice,</strong> conducted by the National Council of Women of Victoria, was held in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament House Melbourne. Students from government and independent schools, covering many cultural backgrounds in Melbourne, addressed the topic: <strong>What are the barriers to Human Rights in Australia? How can we begin to overcome them</strong>. Secondary students from 10 schools made group presentations of their findings from research and, in one case, a survey.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Prior to these student presentations, our Keynote speaker was Lauren Matthews, Director of Programs at the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. She leads the policy, legal, education, consulting and information functions of the Commission - focused on addressing discrimination, human rights, racial and religious vilification, and change and suppression practices. The Education and Engagement Branch is focused on providing clear, accessible legal information and helping individuals and organisations to understand their rights and responsibilities, via training sessions, consultancy and their Enquiry Line. Previously, Lauren practiced law as a solicitor within Australia, including human rights law, discrimination, refugee, criminal law, family law, child protection, and family violence. For 10 years, Lauren served internationally, primarily with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, as well as in field operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nepal. She served as an International Legal Adviser in Sri Lanka for the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons monitoring the national Commission of Inquiry into serious human rights violations. <em>“Only positive outcomes are coming from Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights. It is a vehicle to promote and protect the values of Victoria for a diverse, equal, respectful and just state.”</em> <strong>For details of her speech, see <a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2023%20August%20NCWV%20Newsletter.pdf">August Newsletter</a></strong>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Student presentations followed this most appropriate and informative start to the morning. There were students from 10 schools: Bayside P-12 College Williamstown Campus, Al Siraat College Epping, Kingswood College, MacRobertson Girls High School, Elwood College, Western English Language School, Footscray High School, Rosehill Secondary College, Firbank Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar. A group from each school addressed the topic: <strong>What are the barriers to Human Rights in Australia? How can we begin to overcome them</strong>. The students presented brilliantly, showing how well they had researched the topic, speaking clearly and with passion. All concluded that a Federal Human Rights Charter was essential and urgent. For more details, see <a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2023%20August%20NCWV%20Newsletter.pdf">August Newsletter</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Panel members, Fiona Patten, past MLC, Cr Kylie Spears, past Mayor and President of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, and keynote speaker Lauren Matthews were extremely impressed, suggesting that the students consider local government and/or State government positions in the future! <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0td62ih9v3662kvnzku76/h?rlkey=b5iz5qde7ix9dscngy27evzqv&dl=0 " target="new">The official photographer has uploaded photos to Dropbox</a>.</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial;">Award Winners</span></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU8HM28hEDaQK4Ak2sxup6rbTh14P4LhVsahdZT_HYmsS0_qiMgKYuBDaFkDpggrbFHBw3DKrffL6RhROvSx2fyRGc2nObGKOxS-Bc0c_ty17BWieCcnqzSvUqKe7MKMMnt3qr4TRwkDehY08AWKrIhobnrZxlTrT4TiLB-m6hCF-xYoXTKXv8Lnvcd8/s5816/2023%20August%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%20Awards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5816" data-original-width="3132" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKU8HM28hEDaQK4Ak2sxup6rbTh14P4LhVsahdZT_HYmsS0_qiMgKYuBDaFkDpggrbFHBw3DKrffL6RhROvSx2fyRGc2nObGKOxS-Bc0c_ty17BWieCcnqzSvUqKe7MKMMnt3qr4TRwkDehY08AWKrIhobnrZxlTrT4TiLB-m6hCF-xYoXTKXv8Lnvcd8/w345-h640/2023%20August%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%20Awards.jpg" width="345" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></strong><p></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-30682365585144314572023-08-31T20:47:00.000+10:002023-08-31T20:47:06.077+10:00NCWV 120th AGM Thursday 7 September<p><span style="font-family: arial;">We look forward to you joining us at the 120th AGM. Our Speaker is Helen Dalley- Fisher, Convenor of Equality Rights Alliance, the peak body with which we are involved in advocating with the Federal government.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Helen will reflect on the achievements since the 2022 Federal election and the program for the year ahead.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Notice and invitations to participate as an Adviser or Committee Member will be circulated shortly.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Think about how you might be more involved.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Start time: 12 noon sharp</b></span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-2920463251518268332023-08-31T20:45:00.005+10:002023-09-15T02:26:44.056+10:00Health Week - Wednesday 6 September from 12 until 2pm at the Melbourne Town Hall Yarra Room <p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 90%; margin: 8.5pt 14.5pt 0.0001pt 124.45pt; text-align: center;"></p><div class="WordSection1"><b>Ronniet Milliken </b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">welcomed <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/our-profile/lord-mayor-and-councillors/Pages/councillor-olivia-ball.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Councillor Dr Olivia Ball - City of</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/about-council/our-profile/lord-mayor-and-councillors/Pages/councillor-olivia-ball.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">Melbourne</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span>representing
NCWV’s Patron,<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>Hon<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>Lord<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>Mayor<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;">
</span>Sally Capp AO. Cr Ball is portfolio lead for Health, Wellbeing &<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>Belonging and deputy portfolio lead for
Aboriginal Melbourne and Deputy Chair of Council’s Disability Advisory
Committee</span></div><div class="WordSection1"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJiqDFbNwZoJP3TPIhoiizvvgFiK9bZ4gJxMrQdj8f81Zhm6KU01_pg3jN62RRXOK0WtCi5QMEXTUZoRa7wu7tp1DrBmGo5MPib_IOzmqn8iXGwVEv133-s5sJIaNnydaWvHb2beEcZmxh1XdyUq-WQZ8dYCU5_-LTUCCwqAtJijmMEtfOvlu4YjLNGQ/s180/2023%20Health%20Week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="121" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJiqDFbNwZoJP3TPIhoiizvvgFiK9bZ4gJxMrQdj8f81Zhm6KU01_pg3jN62RRXOK0WtCi5QMEXTUZoRa7wu7tp1DrBmGo5MPib_IOzmqn8iXGwVEv133-s5sJIaNnydaWvHb2beEcZmxh1XdyUq-WQZ8dYCU5_-LTUCCwqAtJijmMEtfOvlu4YjLNGQ/s1600/2023%20Health%20Week.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .45pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a
psychologist, Olivia has an understanding of health issues. She</span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">outlined</span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">what the City</span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">of</span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Melbourne is doing: </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">At local government level, we don’t run hospitals. Most local
governments are getting out of aged care. The only direct<span style="letter-spacing: 4.0pt;"> </span>healthcare<span style="letter-spacing: 4.0pt;"> </span>we<span style="letter-spacing: 4.0pt;"> </span>provide<span style="letter-spacing: 4.0pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: 4.0pt;"> </span>vaccinations<span style="letter-spacing: 4.0pt;"> </span>and maternal & child healthcare where
a healthy life starts. Local government also has an important role in building
community<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>other<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>social<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>determinants<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>health –<span style="letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> </span>like connection<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>nature,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>access<span style="letter-spacing: 1.3pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;"> </span>public<span style="letter-spacing: 1.2pt;"> </span>pools,<span style="letter-spacing: 1.25pt;">
</span>recreation facilities, affordable housing and healthy eating.</i></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: .45pt;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The<span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> </span>state<span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>your<span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;"> </span>health<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> </span>correlated<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.3pt;"> </span>distance<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>from<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;"> </span>the
nearest park or nature reserve, and the distance to your nearest fast-food
outlet. Health is both physical and mental.<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;">
</span>Local<span style="letter-spacing: -.6pt;"> </span>government<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;"> </span>has<span style="letter-spacing: -.6pt;"> </span>an<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;"> </span>active<span style="letter-spacing: -.6pt;">
</span>role<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -.6pt;"> </span>addressing isolation and loneliness
providing community facilities and<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>supporting<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;"> </span>community<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">
</span>activities<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;"> </span>efforts<span style="letter-spacing: -.35pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;"> </span>create community. For
example:</span></span></i></p></div><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: .05pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 42.75pt; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Funding Project Respect – a Melbourne organisation by and for women <b>trafficked </b>for sexual exploitation.</span></i></span></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Immunization nurses have been caring for refugees who<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;"> </span>have<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;"> </span>fled<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;"> </span><b>Afghanistan<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.4pt;"> </span>Ukraine<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;"> </span></b>with<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;">
</span>initial<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;"> </span>home and immediate
healthcare and social needs addressed in before being resettled across the city
and state.</span></i></li><li><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">A collaborative effort, Project Night Justice, working with Victoria
Police, Crime Stoppers, Full Stop Australia and Melbourne Uni to make our <b>streets safer </b>for women and
gender-diverse Melburnians. This offers training and accreditation<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>nightlife<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>venues<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.45pt;"> </span>recognize<span style="letter-spacing: -.5pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>support
women experiencing harassment or assault</span></i></li><li><i style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.15pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">funding <b>training for hairdressers </b>in how to
recognize and refer clients experiencing domestic violence.</span></span></i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">The<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;"> </span>City<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;"> </span>Melbourne<span style="letter-spacing: -.55pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: -.6pt;"> </span>currently<span style="letter-spacing: -.6pt;"> </span>converting<span style="letter-spacing: -.65pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -.6pt;"> </span>disused industrial
building in Little Bourke St into 50 studio apartments for people sleeping
rough or at risk of homelessness – with secure floors for women.</span></i></li></ul><p></p><p><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Provide <b>free menstrual products </b>in council
libraries and<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>municipal<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>bathrooms<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>help<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>address<span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;">
</span>period<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>poverty</span></i></span></span></p><p>To read more: <a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2023%20September%20NCWV%20Newsletter.pdf">September 2023 newsletter</a></p><p><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnPbmYl5IhCwZYRsQEqlxriGIhLCsmEsqcUdMXB3hsMN-zIpEaJZXaqThxZ_mXIXcAnWn-gWA25fAA5SmEMdfX6mo2C8irdYTpvI_QhoFiGrpOjkXexDESxqoHNNUTToa2Z4eWn88eA9ZVQn5ifzkmGqPrVBta5Q_2ADIu2QecWv2erzx5GL3i7Dyy_Q/s835/2023%20Health%20Week%2066%20Attendees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="835" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnPbmYl5IhCwZYRsQEqlxriGIhLCsmEsqcUdMXB3hsMN-zIpEaJZXaqThxZ_mXIXcAnWn-gWA25fAA5SmEMdfX6mo2C8irdYTpvI_QhoFiGrpOjkXexDESxqoHNNUTToa2Z4eWn88eA9ZVQn5ifzkmGqPrVBta5Q_2ADIu2QecWv2erzx5GL3i7Dyy_Q/s320/2023%20Health%20Week%2066%20Attendees.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-3399821191768052702023-06-07T19:39:00.000+10:002023-06-07T19:39:22.456+10:00Invitation to Principals to participate in My Vote My Voice<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white;">A</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> letter to principals inviting their school to participate in My Vote My Voice this year on Monday 7 August. Please circulate this letter to your colleagues and any schools for which you have contacts.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> E</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">xpressions of interest are requested by the end of term (24<sup>th</sup> June), with the listing of students required up until the 21<sup>st of</sup> July.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2023%20MVMV%20Invitation%20to%20Principals.pdf">Link to download and view</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq5pnw9p6idnAtbO3n1ZN9noyl5zAkKghD2leImMaEbkKUo0plUx6-Wv_VqSLkEuVNNyeGeAACdSTjuOXundDRP1XOC-Cdxvc4pjCRnOzyV9hdEfR3eBj2q6DJPWPRZ-HfXq9GlrxNq-QY0NAzHLQ664dQ1HaELC-612C0mqlJPWqdlNqeh7SF-JX/s2339/2023%20MVMV%20Invitation%20to%20Principals_Page_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1653" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq5pnw9p6idnAtbO3n1ZN9noyl5zAkKghD2leImMaEbkKUo0plUx6-Wv_VqSLkEuVNNyeGeAACdSTjuOXundDRP1XOC-Cdxvc4pjCRnOzyV9hdEfR3eBj2q6DJPWPRZ-HfXq9GlrxNq-QY0NAzHLQ664dQ1HaELC-612C0mqlJPWqdlNqeh7SF-JX/w283-h400/2023%20MVMV%20Invitation%20to%20Principals_Page_1.jpg" width="283" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG-oAdpUkOvUX6GKQqAzbkslugiztR7CZJuAeTVMU4f952WYTTZ8a5kQM_cibGklVAcf9X4YrGNz389SMDJD800Y1pumBx569ZMuTCGI6zuEw2z4fN6KH4xCEoyhKAlMlKAQFSJdtc375Ipdkuitin9qVw2O9m5uDG7zxW0ivKsJe0kGXzi4x7WcW/s2339/2023%20MVMV%20Invitation%20to%20Principals_Page_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1653" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG-oAdpUkOvUX6GKQqAzbkslugiztR7CZJuAeTVMU4f952WYTTZ8a5kQM_cibGklVAcf9X4YrGNz389SMDJD800Y1pumBx569ZMuTCGI6zuEw2z4fN6KH4xCEoyhKAlMlKAQFSJdtc375Ipdkuitin9qVw2O9m5uDG7zxW0ivKsJe0kGXzi4x7WcW/w283-h400/2023%20MVMV%20Invitation%20to%20Principals_Page_2.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-63343464609965521122023-05-21T14:22:00.003+10:002023-05-21T14:22:31.427+10:00Mission Australia Survey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-SX19eWc8MTw2JDSJu1AEm2tpgNqBKyD7Xztf27GZauAf-kruusDdFzti_wCiqbY0vz14X6aRCl6WHbwuis5TWGug9CLuXuLv99vjZUDFAWYeQ-Y1f0iv20Y8DHD1tS_KrqaGHT5x6krHpPAfzl2ixqjbCkFyElCbmmAV85pLCtKG-nVkhY7-VFj/s1000/2023%20Inquiries%20and%20advocacy%20opportunities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="1000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-SX19eWc8MTw2JDSJu1AEm2tpgNqBKyD7Xztf27GZauAf-kruusDdFzti_wCiqbY0vz14X6aRCl6WHbwuis5TWGug9CLuXuLv99vjZUDFAWYeQ-Y1f0iv20Y8DHD1tS_KrqaGHT5x6krHpPAfzl2ixqjbCkFyElCbmmAV85pLCtKG-nVkhY7-VFj/w400-h64/2023%20Inquiries%20and%20advocacy%20opportunities.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The Youth Survey 2023 is now open. Now in its 22nd year, it's the largest online survey of its kind in Australia and provides an important annual snapshot into the experiences and views of young people aged 15-19.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Take the survey,</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="https://vcoss.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=302b7fc3cb039a9e08bba4cb3&id=a250d79501&e=30b63ae63e" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" target="_blank">or share it with a young person</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">so that their views are heard.</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Open from March – August.</b></span>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-49168533866068822552023-05-21T14:20:00.000+10:002023-05-21T14:20:01.391+10:00Be Part of History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="1000" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-SX19eWc8MTw2JDSJu1AEm2tpgNqBKyD7Xztf27GZauAf-kruusDdFzti_wCiqbY0vz14X6aRCl6WHbwuis5TWGug9CLuXuLv99vjZUDFAWYeQ-Y1f0iv20Y8DHD1tS_KrqaGHT5x6krHpPAfzl2ixqjbCkFyElCbmmAV85pLCtKG-nVkhY7-VFj/w400-h64/2023%20Inquiries%20and%20advocacy%20opportunities.jpg" width="400" /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div><span style="color: #1d2128; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">A world-first study tracking the health and wellbeing of Victorians, from birth to old age, has delivered a recruitment milestone of more than 90,000 participants. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s <a href="https://www.genv.org.au/" target="_blank">GenV</a>, one of the world’s largest-ever birth and parent cohort studies, has seen 35,000 babies (90,000 newborns, mothers and fathers) sign up. GenV is recruiting across every birthing hospital in Victoria.</span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2128; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IMeWV96kVyxlJ8FGVVyGTeUzLggRhusvFOj78ghegPp5T3233fBKIVwp_1GiZVoNk0vmcnna_WOttpT_qgJwQljDbBJxk-1f26F8e0ouDho3sh1i1Hzi7kw-rTobaGlTxQb3WhNBoQIi0lNZZ-p_ueNl2NiLUqDwXys4uI5aQnMl3rxPoIIXr_ma/s595/2023%20GenV%20Scientific%20Director%20Professor%20Melissa%20Wake,.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="595" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IMeWV96kVyxlJ8FGVVyGTeUzLggRhusvFOj78ghegPp5T3233fBKIVwp_1GiZVoNk0vmcnna_WOttpT_qgJwQljDbBJxk-1f26F8e0ouDho3sh1i1Hzi7kw-rTobaGlTxQb3WhNBoQIi0lNZZ-p_ueNl2NiLUqDwXys4uI5aQnMl3rxPoIIXr_ma/s320/2023%20GenV%20Scientific%20Director%20Professor%20Melissa%20Wake,.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">GenV Scientific Director Professor Melissa Wake<br />GenV family: mother Saada, son Ali, baby Mya, Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="color: #1d2128; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">GenV Scientific <a href="https://www.mcri.edu.au/researcher-details/melissa-wake" target="_blank">Director Professor Melissa Wake</a> said the project aimed to better understand and treat the causes of modern health problems such as obesity, asthma, autism, food allergies and mental illness. “<i>Families that take part in GenV will make a difference to the future health of generations to come,</i>” she said. GenV aims to help solve the complex problems facing children and adults and provide the opportunity to better predict, treat and prevent many different conditions. “<i>Even in its start-up recruitment stage, GenV is already meeting this goal at a speed and scale that might not otherwise have been possible. Collaborators are already testing out new screens that could detect infections and syndromes in the newborn period, providing data on the long-term safety of vaccines in pregnancy and supporting a new registry for children born with hip problems</i>.”</span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2128; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2128; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><div>Every baby born from October 4, 2021 to October 3, 2023 is invited to join, along with their parents, no matter where they live in Victoria or what language they speak. Participants can sign up to the study in person during their birthing hospital stay or at any time thereafter via a simple, guided online process.</div><div><br /></div><div>The recruitment team has recorded 70 languages, including Auslan, during the opt-in process. More than 6700 families in GenV do not primarily speak English at home.</div></span></div><div><span style="color: #1d2128; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-82764219288856038382023-05-21T14:14:00.003+10:002023-05-21T14:14:56.153+10:00Thrive by Five from Jay Weatherill, Director<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-SX19eWc8MTw2JDSJu1AEm2tpgNqBKyD7Xztf27GZauAf-kruusDdFzti_wCiqbY0vz14X6aRCl6WHbwuis5TWGug9CLuXuLv99vjZUDFAWYeQ-Y1f0iv20Y8DHD1tS_KrqaGHT5x6krHpPAfzl2ixqjbCkFyElCbmmAV85pLCtKG-nVkhY7-VFj/s1000/2023%20Inquiries%20and%20advocacy%20opportunities.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-SX19eWc8MTw2JDSJu1AEm2tpgNqBKyD7Xztf27GZauAf-kruusDdFzti_wCiqbY0vz14X6aRCl6WHbwuis5TWGug9CLuXuLv99vjZUDFAWYeQ-Y1f0iv20Y8DHD1tS_KrqaGHT5x6krHpPAfzl2ixqjbCkFyElCbmmAV85pLCtKG-nVkhY7-VFj/w400-h64/2023%20Inquiries%20and%20advocacy%20opportunities.jpg" /></span></a></div> <span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />Up to 101,620 women would join or rejoin the workforce if the Childcare Activity Test was abolished - and our economy would get a $4.4 billion boost! These are just some of the incredible findings of a report by Impact Economics and Policy that was recently released. The report shows that the Activity Test is preventing parents, usually mothers, from joining or rejoining the workforce, and makes one thing very clear; <b>it’s time for this confusing and complicated “test” to be abolished</b>. I’ve heard stories from mums who would like to return to work or work more days but can’t, from parents who wish their child could have more days in early learning but don’t qualify for the subsidies needed to make it affordable, from families who are fearful of inadvertently running up a debt with Centrelink when their hours at work change. The Activity Test is a major barrier to families accessing early learning – in fact, its contributing to 126,000 children missing out on critical early childhood education and care, including single parent families – who are 3 times more likely to have children limited to 1 day a week of early learning and childcare. Parents have to update their activity regularly with Centrelink to ensure they are not overpaid – a nightmare for busy parents with changeable hours. The Activity Test actually discourages people from finding work.<br /><br /><br />As the new report shows, scrapping the test will benefit women, families, the economy and most importantly, children. <b>That’s why I want to hear from you. Because while facts and statistics are critically important for making the case to scrap to the Activity Test, it is real stories from real people that change hearts and minds</b>. <a href="https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/dSCQfi9FLISmU3ZE3bfPhkHFp2yGUHIq8lEmSjWcIvnPtMPoIUGSTh6t2zedO0MIM0Ae05o5i4z_VjcBZ52rNEcG2rurVY5_GMVKWHF7hkYwlRF_wwItsrX6iQ_revx3yU9c8r15TKGxqh3alOVpofhDQ8j6mPl5Knep2YN5u2srn6C4_-E8gME37azRWo-he_Tl8vNXvhz_pgGBhvipH2tA5jikXDDNsnNjvbiqjSitAKOsxDeaEF-1oQDvkEnPjXkNBCbb_rICYQoSw-aS95BVbZamdame_q42GFjQs1qn9KQDEI-MlLESlTtL_ZvcWR-X9w2qE51rgckt63a9pF9TU0fL5tZ18em0T1HNhbpJFekTjwfcZut4Xcp5sOu0/3ui/6LfAtFkjTJyHaO8CDZMl8Q/h1/rTFQrETSqXHRFOInBdu2anEOguGRQk_HF7PuHLkefes">Will you take a moment to share your story about how the Activity Test is affecting you or your family? Click here to tell us now.</a></span>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-74727541946748435792023-05-21T14:09:00.000+10:002023-05-21T14:09:03.881+10:00Adviser Robyn Byrne OAM<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a report on the meeting I went to with Minister Ged Kearney about the issues single women are facing in housing, income and what happens when you have an operation and go home to no home support. Minister Kearney is in the process of establishing a reference group — with Ward as its chair — to meet regularly and capture perspectives, from different demographics, on being an older single woman.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Donna Ward says there's a 'singlehood penalty' for women like her. Australia-first research backs her up.</b></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GkW3NXoHZSI23oR7vr0QeolWu9t9BxrbvvOYP2x_vh7W3ilfjx6lMxz0ikSAvxJWQicHfUROJwL_6Z9WO35UXVxcyJ5eyZ6oT49ndTl3-cOQ3-09uUDzDRKaC2zd35-txvyEJIa5ajI8WlnZAhTTtyxFvQI96WqgXhGonXud0C0fvDm4xvCFtxzG/s630/2023%20Adviser%20Robyn%20Byrne%20OAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="630" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GkW3NXoHZSI23oR7vr0QeolWu9t9BxrbvvOYP2x_vh7W3ilfjx6lMxz0ikSAvxJWQicHfUROJwL_6Z9WO35UXVxcyJ5eyZ6oT49ndTl3-cOQ3-09uUDzDRKaC2zd35-txvyEJIa5ajI8WlnZAhTTtyxFvQI96WqgXhGonXud0C0fvDm4xvCFtxzG/s320/2023%20Adviser%20Robyn%20Byrne%20OAM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ms Donna Ward shared her experience at a Melbourne meeting hosted by Ged Kearney, the federal assistant minister for health and aged care, to discuss the challenges faced by single older women without children. Ms Ward says <i>"the air was wet with emotion"</i> at the meeting, with some women reporting to her after that they were hearing their experience being publicly articulated for the first time. At 68 years and single, Donna attracts a lot of assumptions.<br /><div style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>People around her tend to assume, for example, that she's separated or divorced (she's not), has grown children (she doesn't) and that a single income easily covers the cost of single living (it doesn't). Ms Ward feels that the social and financial implications of being an older single person are not seen, and they're not discussed. There's "a distinct prejudice" against single, older women, she argues. She calls it the "singlehood penalty".<i> "We're living in an economy now that depends on two incomes to maintain a roof over your head, food on your table, clothes on your back,"</i> she tells <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/talkback-are-single-people-worse-off-/101959470" target="_blank">ABC RN's Life Matters</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"We don't have the ability to reveal this life so that people's assumptions can change … so people can understand what this life is like … So that we can be seen and embraced as part of the Australian society."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Single women are 'squeezed from both angles’ as both employers and families viewed them as more flexible with their time. ‘Women who live alone aren't rare. Roughly 16% of Australian women currently live in single-person households, and that number is set to grow’ says Dr Myra Hamilton, associate professor at the University of Sydney's Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research. <i>"The projections suggest that roughly one in four women of reproductive age today won't have children,"</i> she says.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dr Hamilton also says there are big misconceptions about older single women in Australia, one is that they must have enjoyed uninterrupted careers because they don't have children. But <a href="https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/-/media/project/cpa/corporate/documents/policy-and-advocacy/consultations-and-submissions/superannuation/pre-2021/security-in-old-age-for-older-single-women-without-children.pdf" target="_blank">2020 research she led into older single women without children</a> contradicts this. Of the 45 single older women Dr Hamilton interviewed, two-thirds had experienced extended career interruption — often because of caring responsibilities. "<i>Older single women without children are much more likely than any other group to do the caring for an older relative, or a relative with a disability or chronic illness,</i>" Dr Hamilton says. The research also showed that employers see single older women as more available and expected more from them at work, being asked to stay late, than they did of parents with children.</div><div><br /></div><div>Housing for single older women emerged as a huge issue among those in Dr Hamilton's research. "<i>Older single women are the fastest growing group experiencing homelessness in Australia,</i>" she says. "<i>Even those that did own their own homes reported feeling very insecure and precarious because they were on one income. They reported struggling to continue paying rates and strata fees and upkeep to their properties … and [they had] a sense that if something went wrong, without the cushioning effect of a partner, they could very quickly wind up without a home. …They expressed a very strong fear about </i><i>growing older and not knowing who'd be there to support them in the future," </i>she says.<i> "Many were very worried that they would be forced to move into a residential aged care setting before they were ready."</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Ms Ward has written about her experiences in <i>She I Dare Not Name: A Spinster's Meditations on Life</i>. She considers herself financially privileged; but even she has watched her personal wealth diminish in the current <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-11/housing-crisis-cost-of-living-personal-debt/102077818" target="_blank">cost-of-living crisis</a> and after recent <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-31/super-returns-2023-superannuation-2022/101898752" target="_blank">hits to her superannuation as a result of the COVID pandemic</a>. "<i>I just think, 'Oh, my God, if I'm feeling this, what is it like if you're financially vulnerable?</i>" In December last year, issues around single living are, she says, beginning to gain traction. Ms Ward feels that finally discussion about the challenges of single living is beginning, including at the level of federal parliament. "<i>Having a cultural conversation is the only way we're going to change prejudice and misconceptions.</i>"</div></span></div>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-74188317418462477522023-04-22T09:45:00.003+10:002023-04-22T09:45:28.650+10:00 From the President, Ronniet Milliken <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXRj_NtEk22g-zaiXB27MVZJOc7kjXS7BK8vnCuiSrO-uT-mAlYT3ltiaJXSg-0smUtG9mjTM80LVPGo-eqgLWl-N9psfS-FPiufklW2CIwEV9ShVJkmxk3yGvz1jydApTw77Fl0vrDvSa_MvH2oGhksdKIcJ5qX4EZoP-sl43zI2T4GsQSjoSeZa/s438/2021%20President%20Ronniet%20Milliken.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="289" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXRj_NtEk22g-zaiXB27MVZJOc7kjXS7BK8vnCuiSrO-uT-mAlYT3ltiaJXSg-0smUtG9mjTM80LVPGo-eqgLWl-N9psfS-FPiufklW2CIwEV9ShVJkmxk3yGvz1jydApTw77Fl0vrDvSa_MvH2oGhksdKIcJ5qX4EZoP-sl43zI2T4GsQSjoSeZa/w132-h200/2021%20President%20Ronniet%20Milliken.jpg" width="132" /></span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can the mind set in our community be changed so that EQUALITY for all is accepted as the BASE CASE - not something to aspire toward in 300 years! The strategy could be to end harassment and discrimination by the end of the decade. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-41e872fc-7fff-2c2c-a5e5-9096c7a156ef"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.14; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: -7.1pt; margin-right: 0.15pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt 0.15pt 0pt -7.1pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2024 the Australia Equal Opportunity legislation enacted in 1984 will have been in place for 40 years. And the Racial Discrimination legislation will have been in place 50 years in 2025.</span></p></span><span><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-618952ab-7fff-c994-eb63-db761feae1b8"><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt 3.45pt 2pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Other legislation, codes etc followed to set the standard for other demographics, and other perpetrators of discrimination and harassment. We are cautiously optimistic that the state and federal budgets will see further public investment in equality – most likely to address the outcomes of inequality and lack of respect. But we have seen the closure of the Office of the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor, ahead of successful culture change across our community. </span></p></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt 3.45pt 2pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt 3.45pt 2pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Should the various Human Rights/Equal Opportunity/Racial Discrimination/Consumer Affairs and Trade Practices Commissions, WorkSafe, and WGEA actively take the message the EQUALITY and RESPECT message into the community – that this is the BASE case – not a ‘nice to have’. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt 3.45pt 3pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt 3.45pt 3pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A change of approach is required to increase awareness and prevention. It is not a matter of improving websites for the community to find and expecting small and medium businesses to take up expensive </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">eLearning. </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">What if our leaders and these public institutions ramp up awareness and advocacy? Might that reduce the incidence of harassment and discrimination? As a non-party political organisation, it was inspiring to hear from Senator Judith Troeth about what can be achieved by women leading our nation together across political party lines to achieve change. (<a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2023%20April%20NCWV%20Newsletter.pdf" target="_blank">see April Newsletter</a>)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt 3.45pt 3pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 6pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>Mission Australia Survey</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 6pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="text-align: left;">Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2023 is now open. Now in its 22nd year, it's the largest online survey of its kind in Australia and provides an important annual snapshot into the experiences and views of young people aged 15-19.</span></p></span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt -8.3pt 0pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Calibri,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt 3.45pt 3pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d0513ca1-7fff-3675-0a3b-fa1a3429849c"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take the survey, </span><a href="https://vcoss.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=302b7fc3cb039a9e08bba4cb3&id=a250d79501&e=30b63ae63e" style="text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Calibri,sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">or share it with a young person</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> so that their views are heard. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Open from March - August.</b></span></p><div style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvYGmbD61Ur1VnBFmZM1QCDWIrnMDhW87sQV21p3PCoXJzPUaFwtQ3nQFrgRTWVt_S_2bJOL88fdBqpKM_ZsiU8sQvQVzHPcIG_CC_48-UMT5fzukqdvNZX2GjTuPMfj40WpSYcMkBCZeUh7SBWwXbnW92rQD2L78P1pvB8EceBedTsFg6Z5h1l5Q/s602/2023%20Events%20Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="602" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvYGmbD61Ur1VnBFmZM1QCDWIrnMDhW87sQV21p3PCoXJzPUaFwtQ3nQFrgRTWVt_S_2bJOL88fdBqpKM_ZsiU8sQvQVzHPcIG_CC_48-UMT5fzukqdvNZX2GjTuPMfj40WpSYcMkBCZeUh7SBWwXbnW92rQD2L78P1pvB8EceBedTsFg6Z5h1l5Q/w552-h70/2023%20Events%20Banner.png" width="552" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span><span><span id="docs-internal-guid-2809ce0e-7fff-e23d-8769-7043f479fa9d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -0.6pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin: 6pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Celebrating International Women and Girls on Science Day</span></p></span></span></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -0.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marking the eighth annual UN International Women and Girls in Science Day, Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins said the upcoming Trades Fit Expo represents an excellent opportunity for female and non-binary students to explore career opportunities in STEM fields. The Trades Fit is an expo hosted by the Department of Education for female and non-binary students in years 9-12. </span></span></span></span></span><b>Held over 10-11 May</b><span><span><span><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the expo allows students to experience exciting career opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields through interactive experiences and conversation with industry, in a way that focuses on their perspectives.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -0.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><span><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span><span><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -0.6pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin: 6pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Humanitech Summit</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -0.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">This is Australia’s flagship event at the intersection of technology, social innovation, and humanitarian action. Led by Humanitech, an initiative of Red Cross, the 2023 Summit will explore how technology can be used in ways that benefit people and society. A full day of thought-provoking and insightful sessions from leading thinkers at the forefront of change.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -0.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p></span></span></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: -0.6pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin: 0pt -0.6pt 0pt 14.2pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Wednesday 17 May 2023</b><span><span><span><span><span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, State Library Victoria, </span></span><a href="https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=736373&" style="text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Register Now</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></p><span><span><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div></span></span></span></span></div></div>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-80885332367310161112023-03-12T20:05:00.000+11:002023-03-12T20:05:04.493+11:00Young Women and Youth Activism<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="97" data-original-width="442" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjUqVGsQpDkKdNn2lIdpD7ZwZbyUBnr9N_2b7noIkJUZjysdn817omRhDf7BIkMSvZEwwZI2zyEpo9dpxt8VXEvAoR9iH3OB7mX1HrmWHP_DUJKK6ZhhM79vqb5wkTPHvGDbVcygiyfTprrt5Jpxgy4Fl28aISdG4ZV03cpcsAa00Guhd2zAhiaxE/s320/PLAN%20International%20Logo.jpg" width="320" /></div><br />Susanne Legena CEO of PLAN Australia and members of her team including Youth Activists joined the meeting.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Susanne gave an overview stating that ‘<i>PLAN is the charity for girls’ equality. We tackle the root causes of poverty, support communities through crisis, campaign for gender equality, and help governments do what’s right for children and particularly for girls. We believe a better world is possible. An equal world; a world where all children can live happy and healthy lives, and where girls can take their rightful place as equals.</i>’ Plan believes a better world is possible and they can add value and have made some pretty big changes in the 80 years they have been around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">PLAN has Five Pillars: Learn; Lead; Decide; Thrive; Survive, designed to create young women leaders and change-makers. The Youth Activist Series (YAS), a 12 month leadership program, provides a platform for young people to learn more about global issues surrounding gender justice, and presents a space where they can build their capacity and campaign with young people all over the world. The purpose of YAS is to give participants the chance to drive real change that is informed by their voices and solutions.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtAA9wZPKWFNuBnHuulCyrRM4M7bTCQ7z2S1u2gel-5rboAywwJKT67cIPB6HrZQi_clRPP2EbIeEVevJ0yIaRZG1Id8bn1_nRz5FhZMRRU5ElUga8bbX2y5SuDU-IYSPoxT6Nz6dPuwwc6RWTjTzVJGYZLUqxbwBPYr5u7r8PdxjzCED_I16S6Sa/s729/2023%20PLAN%20Speakers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="729" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtAA9wZPKWFNuBnHuulCyrRM4M7bTCQ7z2S1u2gel-5rboAywwJKT67cIPB6HrZQi_clRPP2EbIeEVevJ0yIaRZG1Id8bn1_nRz5FhZMRRU5ElUga8bbX2y5SuDU-IYSPoxT6Nz6dPuwwc6RWTjTzVJGYZLUqxbwBPYr5u7r8PdxjzCED_I16S6Sa/w320-h214/2023%20PLAN%20Speakers.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ruvimbo, one of the Youth Activist in the Youth Activist Series (YAS): Stand Up Against Street Harassment awareness and training program, PLAN International Australia proudly partnered with L’Oréal Paris, to deliver this in Australia. This stemmed from research done, resulting in the mapping tool </span><a href="https://www.plan.org.au/you-can-help/join-the-movement-for-girls-rights/free-to-be/" style="font-family: arial;">Free to Be Free to Be - Women's Safety Map | Plan International Australia</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, developed in collaboration with Monash University’s XYX Lab and young women. One tool developed is the Vic Police text-based reporting tool. This one-hour, virtual interactive training is being offered completely free, and will be delivered by Plan International Australia’s Youth Activists to the public and organisations across Australia. </span><a href="https://www.plan.org.au/you-can-help/stand-up-against-street-harassment/" style="font-family: arial;">Stand up against street harassment - Plan International Australia</a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Siena, who works in digital marketing, outlined threats to online safety including time/autonomy children are online; sexualisation of and by young; grooming; radicalisation (especially boys). She believes that platforms/corporations don’t take enough responsibility, as they sell personal data to those who benefit by targeting individuals. Legislation/laws needed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Young people came together from Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia to research how active bystander intervention can fight the growing levels of gender-based violence and harassment that young people experience online. These youth leaders worked together to design the guiding project questions, conduct focus groups with peers and now campaign for change! Their research focused on this question: <i>What is needed to mobilise and support people to be active online bystanders when they witness online gender-based violence directed towards young people in all our diversity?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Their research showed that people are powerful agents of change and can be mobilised to be active bystanders but they need the education, tools and support to do so. Education systems and social media companies have a big and important role to play in equipping people to be active bystanders. Their findings, recommendations and ideas for action demonstrate that change is possible and it lies with all of us as individuals as well as with social media platforms and our government.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Jemma Enough is Enough! We need to address the barriers to women entering politics. In 2022, YAS and Youth Activists from Indonesia and Vietnam came together to collectively inform what inclusive, and truly representative, civic spaces could look like. It found that young people feel undervalued and powerless in participating in politics. The Voices for Change report explores young people’s leadership and political participation, and proposes solutions for a new way forward. This report was presented before the Minister for Youth.<a href="https://www.plan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-YAS-Report.pdf"> 2022-YAS-Report.pdf (plan.org.au)</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Jemma is keen to link with the young NCWV group to possibly create youth programs, share ideas, support young people.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Susanne concluded and suggested we partner for change and have intergenerational dialogues.</span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-59128723371931135552023-03-11T07:55:00.003+11:002023-03-11T07:55:34.935+11:00Parliament Express<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Parliament Express is a free series of workshops and 1:1 mentoring sessions for people aged 18 to 25. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This program gives emerging writers the ability to not only experience, but also document the work of parliament. Participants have the chance to engage with MPs, members of the press gallery and parliamentary staff. Launched in 2022, the program aims to upskill aspiring journalists who have an interest in politics. Those involved can indicate their preference for online, in person or hybrid participation. Parliament Express demonstrated how parliament engages with young people.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">‘One of the benefits of this entire experience is that our work will be published on the <a href="https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/news/#PARLEXP">website</a> which is very exciting because we can build up our portfolio,’ previous participant Chelsea Daniel said. The two-hour fortnightly sessions will start on a Tuesday evening in April. <a href="https://expressmedia.submittable.com/submit">Apply</a> by Wednesday 22 March 2023 for a place, run by Parliament of Victoria and <a href="https://expressmedia.org.au/programs/parliament-express/">Express Media</a>.</span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-80290889594963744852022-10-13T17:54:00.002+11:002022-10-13T17:54:42.990+11:00Gender Stereotypes in Children’s Literature – Changes needed?<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2-8jaHyBd0sGLYka60DZGdYAe5R0vfj1jpzQNjdLWglZ8e-Iv0txyxaXHUGSKZQYJj64Ku_NZWWYxMJBzhGS4Oesc3xGBByYjjjntcGVtx8x6IpnCtrmFnF1_d5vonZJOy6s2k51wO52JhdJOl3djHaIdT-jMJZrWjgvB38bY0am-B2qF6q1cbEd/s405/2022%20Dr%20Deborah%20Towns%20OAM%20and%20Pam%20Hammond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="249" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2-8jaHyBd0sGLYka60DZGdYAe5R0vfj1jpzQNjdLWglZ8e-Iv0txyxaXHUGSKZQYJj64Ku_NZWWYxMJBzhGS4Oesc3xGBByYjjjntcGVtx8x6IpnCtrmFnF1_d5vonZJOy6s2k51wO52JhdJOl3djHaIdT-jMJZrWjgvB38bY0am-B2qF6q1cbEd/s320/2022%20Dr%20Deborah%20Towns%20OAM%20and%20Pam%20Hammond.jpg" width="197" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br />Speakers were Dr Deborah Towns OAM and Pam Hammond MEd (Maths Education)</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This was a follow-up to two previous presentations to NCWV: one by Inbal Steinberg who analysed a reading program being used at her sons’ school, finding many stereotypes in these books.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The other, NCWV member Adrienne Fleming, an aviator who interviewed students about their wish to be a pilot. She found in Preps, Year 1 and 2 girls put their hands up as much as boys, but this diminished somewhat in Year 3, and dramatically in Year 4. Deborah and Pam went on to say that there can be many reasons for this: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>‘Without modification to the attitudes and values of the wider community and the media, girls will continue to be educationally, socially and economically disadvantaged.’ </i>National Action Plan for the Education of Girls 1993-97. Deb and Pam focussed on the stereotypes in picture story books, as the first 7 years of a child’s life is when they are open to being influenced, positively or negatively. They are developing understandings about gender, themselves and expectations of their roles in the family, with peers and in the world around them and can impact on aspirations. Books also provide models of male and female behaviours and help children explore social issues and relationships. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Why don’t we have more female scientists? Why are so few men nurses? The root of most gender imbalances starts early. By recognising/challenging these stereotypes we can lift the limits they place on children’s aspirations, choices and outcomes.</i> Limit lifting Program UK </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Deb and Pam quoted from research, one by a Phd student Sarah Mokrzycki at Victoria University, who analysed 100 best-selling picture books, identified by Dymocks in 2019. Female protagonists were seen in only 17% of the books, while 46% had male protagonists. Only seven books were female led in the top 50, compared to 26 male led books. Sarah found that the roles taken by the male characters ranged from farmers, chefs, scientists, builders to knights and more, whereas female characters were princesses, ballerinas, mothers, shop assistants, other stereotypical roles. These statistics were found in analysis of 100 best selling children’s books, 2018 in the UK: Male villains were 7 times more likely than female villains, female characters were less likely to speak, 59% of characters were male, with only two books having a main character who was also from an ethnic or black group. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">An Edith Cowan University study, lead author Dr Helen Adam, criticised popular books: Harry the Dirty Dog which portrays 24 males in stereotypical roles, the dog is ‘he’ and there are only seven females, mostly passive; also the Disney Princess Series where girls are saved by males. Dr Adam adds <i>“The male is strong and he knows best … it’s how we end up with some of the problems in society, there are messages of patriarchy everywhere.”</i> The study in eight early learning centres in Australia and the United States into gender representation analysed books using <i>Harper’s Framework of Gender Stereotypes in Children’s Literature</i>. These include language, roles, relationships, emotions, attitudes, activities, achievements, values, needs and experiences. Some showed disruption of previous representations of masculinity and femininity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Deb and Pam showed books which included stereotypical roles, as well as those which were more sensitive to this. With a table of Harper’s categories, participants analysed picture story books, commenting on what they found. One notable example, <i>The Gruffalo</i>, an extremely popular book of the early 2000s has all fictional and animal characters being male and aggressive. The author, Julia Donaldson, wrote a sequel, <i>Gruffalo’s Child</i> in which the child is female and the Gruffalo is a doting and caring Father! How good is that!! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSmkW5BflQaPQjcZvjoTwTnb1xF2uOrt44MpVlOsvudPaTcBSzW3YlmsglrJpB8pqokCUc5h8Q0Whtl6lXKnQ1wFO4Y6isiFKgJ16G8nVUdup2s747QnFxRDtqBG4GD-W7Skp5nDtSdHeQbzHvBvEUgRT8qWwFeuqK7cVSXXDVxsFrLmvNMkQrBwx/s333/2022%20The%20Gruffalo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="266" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSmkW5BflQaPQjcZvjoTwTnb1xF2uOrt44MpVlOsvudPaTcBSzW3YlmsglrJpB8pqokCUc5h8Q0Whtl6lXKnQ1wFO4Y6isiFKgJ16G8nVUdup2s747QnFxRDtqBG4GD-W7Skp5nDtSdHeQbzHvBvEUgRT8qWwFeuqK7cVSXXDVxsFrLmvNMkQrBwx/w160-h200/2022%20The%20Gruffalo.jpg" width="160" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4HkzXctAUSNOOUpzuvDvaY-n62zIVQo_0aXo1UVsbvU2ntTq36CCkIjlkZAqQxUq7yxvDdNV49x3WLQ9Zs_LruV7dsw0k5y96-xknNozge39xPLCY7Xz-lP41NhnFiCwx_KVNvtbJ6o6wGjv7dbhEJ1W99yHHKGughpyJR-s3ftWaiDkPUxsdNpS/s321/2022%20Gruffalos%20Child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="277" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4HkzXctAUSNOOUpzuvDvaY-n62zIVQo_0aXo1UVsbvU2ntTq36CCkIjlkZAqQxUq7yxvDdNV49x3WLQ9Zs_LruV7dsw0k5y96-xknNozge39xPLCY7Xz-lP41NhnFiCwx_KVNvtbJ6o6wGjv7dbhEJ1W99yHHKGughpyJR-s3ftWaiDkPUxsdNpS/w173-h200/2022%20Gruffalos%20Child.jpg" width="173" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">They also showed books that help children to understand who they are and who they can be, explore social issues and relationships and talk about their feelings. Stereotypes are outside the classroom. Toys and games are marketed as being ‘for’ one gender or the other, ‘girl’ and ‘boy’ colours, LEGO has succumbed! Even things as apparently innocuous as colouring books are promoted as being for one gender or the other. Research has demonstrated how discussions and using literature for addressing stereotypes can have a significant impact on engagement and learning. In concluding Deb and Pam said, <i>“We don’t want to exclude all books that are not gender neutral, we need fairies and goblins, imagination is important. Many are high-quality literature with good use of language and positive messages, but educators need to be aware and ask appropriate questions for children to reflect on the roles represented. Schools, early educators, parents, librarians, publishers, authors need to identify unintended messages books carry if they portray stereotypical roles and behaviours in the books they select/write.” </i></span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-14215706470596830002022-07-16T08:40:00.002+10:002022-07-23T15:46:02.321+10:00Modern Slavery and Trafficking<p><span style="font-family: arial;">One speaker was Caroline Gowers, Executive Director of </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Project Respect</i><span style="font-family: arial;">,
a Victorian based organisation that is a specialised support service for women
with experience in the sex industry, including those who have experienced
trafficking. They connect to and create community; offer free, confidential,
non-judgemental support, amplify the voices of women with diverse lived
experiences and build the capacity of workforces to provide appropriate
support. The other speaker was Professor Jennifer Burn Director, </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Anti-Slavery
Australia</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney. Both women
provided us with an academic basis for our advocacy and proposed practical
action. Individual members and our network of associates and organisations were invited to hear the call to action – along with NCWV. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Carolyn Gowers, Executive Director of </span><b style="font-family: arial;">Project Respect</b><span style="font-family: arial;">, a 20 year-old Victorian based organisation and a registered charity. Project Respect is an intersectional feminist, non-faith-based organisation positioning trafficking and sexual exploitation as a global, gendered and structural issue. It is a specialised support service for women with experience in the sex industry, including those who have experienced trafficking.</span></div><div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><br /></div><div>Carolyn gave an overview of the services and support that Project Respect offers, including free, confidential, non-judgemental support, safe community lunch and gardening activities, amplification of the voices of women with diverse lived experiences and building the capacity of workforces to provide appropriate support.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carolyn emphasised that one of the most important things for women seeking support is less about the service or support being sought, but more the feeling of being genuinely believed that can make all the difference, and how being stigmatised can be a significant barrier in women accessing support. She described how complex many situations can be, and the increasing challenges COVID has brought, such as visa instability leading to domestic trafficking and inability to escape family violence, and noted that COVID has resulted in marginalised women suffering increased vulnerability at the same time as reduction in support and services</div><div><br /></div><div>Carolyn spoke passionately about human trafficking for sexual exploitation, giving recent experiences from the field; included supporting women in recognising their experiences as trafficking, supporting them to access recovery services provided by other agencies, and working to raise recognition around the seriousness of domestic trafficking (and what it looks like). She went on to describe some of the highly publicised cases reported in the media at the moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carolyn gave an overview of the ‘Modern Slavery Action Plan’ that has been in place since Project Respect became a member of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery in 2008. Current plans include partnerships with civil society organisations, working in partnership with NGOs, development of a Victim and Survivor Engagement and Empowerment Strategy and Community and Services Sector Education. However, she noted that most goals of the ‘National Action Plan to Combat Modern Slavery 2020-25’ have not been met nor funded, with the Modern Slavery Act “watering down” the approach to trafficking for sexual exploitation.</div><div><br /></div><div>2017 was the last year that federal funding was received by Project Respect and while grants had been applied for, these had not been received even with ongoing work recognised. Carolyn spoke about the impact a lack of funding has on targets and goals, with staff spending time chasing grants, less time on advocacy and support, reducing opportunities to utilise expertise in working holistically with a connected system. Carolyn expressed profound concern that “Project Respect’s financial position is at critical levels and we will struggle to survive without funding.”</div></span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Caroline provided information about capacity building training which can help to increase understanding of supporting women with diverse experiences in the sex industry which includes short courses and e-learning courses, links to these and other contact information can be found at link to <a href="https://www.projectrespect.org.au/" target="_blank">Project Respect</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">She also added information on <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/tz/academic/subjects/law/public-international-law/orphanage-trafficking-international-law" target="_blank">‘Orphanage Trafficking’</a>, Kate Van Doore's book.</span></div></div>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-3547777658025554172022-06-25T18:45:00.005+10:002022-06-25T18:45:57.888+10:00The 120th anniversary of women's suffrage in Australia<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0pj525aBygkiJ324C39wb5xDoT-Ouu6GyLwidKAcDUf1kpQ16i4zfK0nJOwXwOVnnx4vkOs7x8M0K8kRZBR6jwKQ46A1jE2DSuWglZJuPW6_9R9cwhgqXzmRGIz4Z6Oau7jNNcbUqLBcMjJvNmQFQtcMn6ZauzSOIYaXq0ooIazRvRiOvfN3vfCG/s203/2022%20120%20Anniversary%20Womens%20Suffrage%20-%20Vida%20Goldstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="139" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0pj525aBygkiJ324C39wb5xDoT-Ouu6GyLwidKAcDUf1kpQ16i4zfK0nJOwXwOVnnx4vkOs7x8M0K8kRZBR6jwKQ46A1jE2DSuWglZJuPW6_9R9cwhgqXzmRGIz4Z6Oau7jNNcbUqLBcMjJvNmQFQtcMn6ZauzSOIYaXq0ooIazRvRiOvfN3vfCG/w274-h400/2022%20120%20Anniversary%20Womens%20Suffrage%20-%20Vida%20Goldstein.jpg" width="274" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">Vida Goldstein</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VidaGoldstein.jpg" style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #1f538d; text-decoration-line: none;">Image in collection of National Library of Australia\
Wikimedia Commons</span></i></a><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #1f538d;">.</span></i></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Posted
15/06/2022 by Anna Hough</span></i></div></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Sunday
12 June 2022 marked 120 years since Australian women gained the right to vote
in federal elections, following the passage of the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/resources/transcripts/cth5i_doc_1902.pdf"><i><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902</span></i></a></span><i><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span></i><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">(Franchise Act)</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">. The Act extended the franchise to
‘persons not under twenty-one years of age whether male or female, married or
unmarried’. The Act also gave women the right to stand as candidates in federal
elections. However, the Act also denied the right to vote to people of
non-European backgrounds. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, both
women and men, unless they were eligible to vote under state legislation. Australia
became the first country in the world to give most women both the right to vote
and the right to run for parliament. New Zealand women gained the right to vote
in 1893, but not the right to stand as candidates. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">By
June 1902, women were already </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22library%2Fprspub%2FMVF30%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">eligible to vote</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> in
South Australia (since 1894), and Western Australia (since 1899). The New South
Wales (NSW) Legislative Assembly followed in August 1902, then the Tasmanian
House of Assembly in 1903, Queensland in 1905, and Victoria in 1908.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While
the Bill had aimed to extend the franchise to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples and to those who were then referred to as ‘coloured people’
from overseas, it was amended to exclude ‘aboriginal natives of Australia,
Asia, Africa or the Islands of the Pacific’ from being placed on the electoral
roll, unless entitled under Section 41 of the Constitution. It would be another
60 years before all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were able to
enrol and vote at federal elections, following the 1962 amendment of the <i>Commonwealth
Electoral Act 1918.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The
first federal election at which women in Australia were able to exercise their
rights to vote and to stand as candidates was held on 16 December 1903. Four
women contested that election: </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/anderson-selina-sarah-senie-12773"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Selina Anderson</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
(later Siggins), who ran for the House of Representatives in NSW; and Senate
candidates </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/goldstein-vida-jane-6418"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vida Goldstein</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> in
Victoria (for whom the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/vic/goldstein.htm"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">electoral division of Goldstein</span></a></span><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">is
named), and </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/martel-ellen-alma-nellie-13081"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nellie Martel</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> and </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ling-mary-13048"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mary Moore-Bentley</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> (later Ling) in NSW. They were the
first women nominated for election to any national parliament in what was then
the British Empire. All four women ran as independent candidates. None were
elected.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Selina
Anderson, the first woman to run for the Australian House of Representatives,
had originally intended to run for the Senate. In 1904, she </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/anderson-selina-sarah-senie-12773"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sued a shopkeeper for defamation</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">,
claiming that remarks he had made about her had prevented her from standing for
the Senate describing her as a woman of 'libidinous and licentious nature and
disposition'. Her case was unsuccessful. This may sound familiar in the wake of
recent revelations about the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F8091574%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">treatment of women in politics</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">,
including those detailed in the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2021
report </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/set-standard-2021"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Set the Standard</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The
first woman elected to an Australian state parliament, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cowan-edith-dircksey-5791"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Edith Cowan</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, was
elected to Western Australia’s Legislative Assembly in 1921. However, it was </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22library%2Fprspub%2F6159112%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">not until 1943</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> that
the first women, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2FJ7U%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Enid Lyons</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> in
the House of Representatives and </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2FK7Y%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dorothy Tangney</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> in
the Senate, were elected to Australia’s federal parliament. Enid Lyons was also
the first woman appointed to the ministry, becoming Vice President of the
Executive Council in 1949. The first woman to administer a Commonwealth
department was </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2FK28%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Annabelle Rankin</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, as
Minister for Housing from 1966.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22library%2Fprspub%2F8013286%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">first Indigenous member of any
Australian parliament</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F0V4%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Neville Bonner</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, was
appointed to the Senate in 1971. The first Indigenous member of the House of
Representatives, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2FM3A%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ken Wyatt</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, was
elected in 2010, also the first Indigenous person to hold assistant
ministerial, ministerial, and Cabinet roles in the Australian Government (from
2015, 2017, and 2019, respectively). The first Indigenous woman, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2FCDK%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nova Peris</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, was
elected to the Senate in 2013. In 2016, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F8GH%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Linda Burney</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> was
the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives. In 2022 she
became the first Indigenous woman to </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F8605261%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">hold a federal ministry and to be
elevated to Cabinet</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In
2014 the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22library%2Fprspub%2F7N3T6%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">100th woman</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> in
the House of Representatives, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F248006%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Terri Butler</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">,
entered parliament, 71 years after Enid Lyons. In 2018 the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22library%2Fprspub%2F7N3T6%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">100th woman</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> in
the Senate (and the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F6148710%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">first female Muslim senator</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">), </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F250362%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mehreen Faruqi</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">,
entered parliament. In 2019 women and men were, for the first time, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22library%2Fprspub%2F6908687%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">equally represented in the Senate</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, a
milestone that is yet to be reached in the House of Representatives. While
subject to final confirmation, indications are that in the </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F8603163%22"><span style="color: #1f538d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">47th Parliament</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, 57
per cent of senators and 38 per cent of members of the House of Representatives
will be women. </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-81313253887673988162022-05-10T19:51:00.003+10:002022-09-22T13:18:57.876+10:00My Vote My Voice: The Role of Treaty in achieving Reconciliation, 2022<div><span style="font-family: arial;">The National Council of Women of Victoria’s annual student event My Vote My Voice was held in the Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament of Victoria on the morning of Monday 22nd August 2022, 9:15-12:30pm.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This year’s theme was My Vote My Voice: The Role of Treaty in achieving Reconciliation, designed to encourage students to investigate the issues around treaty and reconciliation.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We were delighted that our Keynote speaker was Leanne Miller, Member for North-East Region, proud Dhulanyagen Ulupna of the Yorta Yorta people, Member of the First Peoples’ Assembly Victoria </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">MVMV started as a result of research finding that young people were disengaged with the democratic processes. We hope that the students who attend will go on to better grasp the intricacies of our democratic system. Since 2014, 22 different schools have participated, some many times, and a total of 285 students. These events have raised students’ awareness of the rights and responsibilities of voting; gender issues in local and state governments; lack of diversity in local organisations and councils; attitudes of young people to voting; when women and First Nations people were able to vote; and given voice to students about what they think future parliaments and councils should look like and the actions they want to occur. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The event commenced in Queen’s Hall for welcome and photographs. We were welcomed there by Fiona Patten, leader of the Reason Party who has a seat in the Victorian Legislative Council, representing the Northern Metropolitan Region.. Moving into the Legislative Council Chamber Ronniet Milliken, President NCWV acknowledged the people of the Kulin nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. She then welcomed guests, panel members, teachers and students.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Ronniet then continued: <i>“This year NCWV celebrates the 120th anniversary of our foundation in 1902 and achievements since that time. We wonder whether our founders dared to dream that one day our patrons - the Governor of Victoria, and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne - would both be women! </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>We honour our founders, their successors, and achievements in advocating for the well-being of women, girls and families across Greater Melbourne, Geelong, regional and rural Victoria. On many occasions that advocacy has resulted in legislation enacted in the Victorian Parliament in which we meet today. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>We acknowledge the significance of First Nations, migrant, and refugee women leaders to the formation of our culture and Victorian society. While women in Australia were granted the right to vote and stand for federal election in 1902 and in Victoria in 1908, First Nations people and non-European migrants were not granted the right to vote at that time. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>For 120 years NCWV has been advocating FOR respect, physical safety, education at all levels, and equal pay for equal work. We advocate AGAINST discrimination on gender, race, or marital status; violence in the home; and harassment in workplaces and public places. While our tenacity is bearing fruit, we recognise there is still work to be done in conjunction with our diverse community, to embed these changes in our culture.” </i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">R</span><span style="font-family: arial;">onniet introduced the keynote speaker Leanne Miller, who is an experienced director with a history of working in government, non-government, and social organisations. She is skilled in governance and leadership in non-profit organisations, corporate social responsibility, program evaluation, conflict resolution and culture change. She is a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity and works as Principal Adviser, Indigenous Workforce Development at RMIT University and Project Manager Koorie Women Mean Business. Leanne's family has a strong and long-standing commitment to indigenous affairs. Her grandmother, Geraldine Briggs, and her mother, Frances Mathyssen, are highly respected Aboriginal leaders. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We then heard speakers from Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar, Bayside P-12 College, Williamstown Campus; Kingswood College; MacRobertson HS; Elwood College; Blackburn HS; Star of the Sea College, Gardenvale. All speakers had researched the theme well and spoke confidently, with different perspectives taken by each school. Their presentations were inspiring and passionate. Schools also brought students as observers, some parents attended and many NCWV members and their guests. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">An evaluation sheet was completed by panel members Elida Brereton, Vice-Principal NCWV, Leanne Miller, and Cr Trent McCarthy, Darebin Council. </span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJced6Jgh0sS76A6GsHMtd9etcsbiC5xG_D7mrdL5JbxEMG7_R9HsR7XJtB7b2mDLd9Wh1wunRAAxBjR9zTZ1Nd2h1Ww6_Q-cSO4TWtfgRGCzPo6evt0qyB8eOJcl7Z1F9yZIGK0f_4J5WoZtlY87YtOtHggZWT8f9bLS4bFG1h1pSHrfe53m7akzZ/s491/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="491" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJced6Jgh0sS76A6GsHMtd9etcsbiC5xG_D7mrdL5JbxEMG7_R9HsR7XJtB7b2mDLd9Wh1wunRAAxBjR9zTZ1Nd2h1Ww6_Q-cSO4TWtfgRGCzPo6evt0qyB8eOJcl7Z1F9yZIGK0f_4J5WoZtlY87YtOtHggZWT8f9bLS4bFG1h1pSHrfe53m7akzZ/s320/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cr Trent McCarthy, Elida Brereton, Leanne Miller</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YRb4zxBTzJTWxgrxYt3_Y5XuyNyCc2Gfk4cdoviYEsBHxt4B_0w4pJnFMB-Xe3tljEOsTxaqX34rwOxVpLvbAFvXcxVoIm0ZAIukcVyCprenauapR1CabZDuowwfYmu8CA1cGH_m1vZA_pMRbrEBDifohEKlErV2Tc9DWTBGG8yfHlsuD_CCYD7L/s735/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="735" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YRb4zxBTzJTWxgrxYt3_Y5XuyNyCc2Gfk4cdoviYEsBHxt4B_0w4pJnFMB-Xe3tljEOsTxaqX34rwOxVpLvbAFvXcxVoIm0ZAIukcVyCprenauapR1CabZDuowwfYmu8CA1cGH_m1vZA_pMRbrEBDifohEKlErV2Tc9DWTBGG8yfHlsuD_CCYD7L/s320/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JXIWKxjFI1C-7z9_7jgAP6BlR3Iapgt_rrtRkPpOSumObO6iPgsb35M7z8WhMl-fEWxUCNVamDfKwfsRzeGvOPawL6ThifMIkBD_ClsiT7Avjze9Hy1GIi3lG4qQ8xMtFtfgrmDziJQ3W7p-FZj7MHhtEAfVe6OxWvG52ah_-MYjZMEbnA59gABj/s407/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="407" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JXIWKxjFI1C-7z9_7jgAP6BlR3Iapgt_rrtRkPpOSumObO6iPgsb35M7z8WhMl-fEWxUCNVamDfKwfsRzeGvOPawL6ThifMIkBD_ClsiT7Avjze9Hy1GIi3lG4qQ8xMtFtfgrmDziJQ3W7p-FZj7MHhtEAfVe6OxWvG52ah_-MYjZMEbnA59gABj/s320/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star of the Sea, Gardenvale</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyKpFpiYdwDAD1Jo68w97_DF5j5DgVjO8jwbOKeLahyMTNZVQ7BcYZCXIYrGw0T1W5cfaWfECYpJTDBthrx-gJKZmETzTYz6UtSbLgmhX51iUFB2JfPSY8QKKMs0oNnMsxnnYu8VgZxKP3VC9I01-Ve11hnRdJgy5e3RLVHZZ5TnJWZU01Zh8qTYF/s879/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyKpFpiYdwDAD1Jo68w97_DF5j5DgVjO8jwbOKeLahyMTNZVQ7BcYZCXIYrGw0T1W5cfaWfECYpJTDBthrx-gJKZmETzTYz6UtSbLgmhX51iUFB2JfPSY8QKKMs0oNnMsxnnYu8VgZxKP3VC9I01-Ve11hnRdJgy5e3RLVHZZ5TnJWZU01Zh8qTYF/s320/2022%20My%20Vote%20My%20Voice%203.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-54162765992679262712022-04-30T15:47:00.004+10:002022-04-30T19:12:59.107+10:0061st Annual Pioneer Women’s Ceremony, March 26<span style="font-family: arial;">This once again celebrated Victorian Pioneer Women, conducted annually by the NCWV to acknowledge past and present women pioneers, this year at the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden, Kings Domain in beautiful sunshine. As 2022 is the 120th Anniversary of NCWV, the focus was on pioneer women who established Victorian women’s organisations and who have continued these organisations up until today. Dr Judith Smart AM, co-author of the history of the NCW Australia, Respectable Radicals gave an overview of the history of women’s organisations and the Great Granddaughter of Janet Lady Clarke, Barbary Clarke, also spoke.<br /><br /><br /><b>Dr Deborah Towns OAM introduced Dr Judith Smart AM</b>, and began by recognising 2022 as a significant year not only for NCWV, but for all Australian (white) women who won the right to vote and stand for election in 1902. Victorian women had to wait until 1908 to vote in state elections and stand in 1924. Vida Goldstein, an early NCWV member was one of the suffragists who campaigned tirelessly, then unsuccessfully stood many times as an independent candidate. Judith is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT, an academic who has inspired and supported me and many others. She has many publications and continues to write books and articles. Of importance to us today is that Judith co-authored with Dr Marian Quartly, <i>Respectable Radicals: A History of the National Council of Women of Australia, 1896-2006</i>. NCWV stories are in there too, but Judith has prepared her talk with new material about NCW Victoria and what we have got up to since 1902. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Judith Smart AM</b> highlighted the amazing women and their activism in the past. Thousands of women all over Victoria are working for women in so many areas that we continue to try and improve today. Equal pay for one. Domestic violence; Safety in workplaces; Homelessness; Health; Childcare and more. She brought all this work to the forefront of Victoria’s history. We have so many women to thank from the past. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2022%20Judith%20Smart's%20lecture%20to%20NCWV%20Pioneer%20Women's%20Garden%2026%20March%202022.pdf">>> Her speech</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjxyb6y_J945VNIFt0uK_mp5wda2imiA9gub5j1UO8hotPuQI5KSzW6ZmAt7hUjeAWRnTcJfbV3A17LExe_IBooORs9feuYo9o5ZYDZLedMrmW-Zu7d6tys6IB-j2W8M7DF8m9vxw9qLdoEZaU6yXwGN7MoGyXZP-z8WGIUFQLtrCo7yJJN7qENun/s1442/2022%2061%20Annual%20Pioneer%20Womens%20Ceremony%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="1442" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjxyb6y_J945VNIFt0uK_mp5wda2imiA9gub5j1UO8hotPuQI5KSzW6ZmAt7hUjeAWRnTcJfbV3A17LExe_IBooORs9feuYo9o5ZYDZLedMrmW-Zu7d6tys6IB-j2W8M7DF8m9vxw9qLdoEZaU6yXwGN7MoGyXZP-z8WGIUFQLtrCo7yJJN7qENun/w532-h211/2022%2061%20Annual%20Pioneer%20Womens%20Ceremony%201.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Barbary Clarke, Great granddaughter of Janet Lady Clarke </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Barbary spoke of her ancestor’s women-centred activism. <i>On reading her biography, I was astounded at what her Great grandmother accomplished, including founding with Vida Goldstein and others NCWV, welfare of community and advancement of women, also inspiring others. Barbary spoke of her Grandmother Ivy’s parents, Pattie and Alfred‘s passion for equality of women and men along with her husband Herbert Brookes and Ivy’s activism with NCWV for 50 years. She was on the NCWV Executive from 1912, President in 1938 when she represented Australia at the 50th Anniversary conference of the International Council of Women in Edinburgh. She was NCWA President 1948-1952 and was appointed life vice president. This was a productive time for NCWV,… active on marriage legislation, equal pay and migration policy – and the election of women senators from amongst its own ranks. Collaborating with Elizabeth Couchman in 1944, Ivy brought the Australian Women's National League into Menzies’ new Liberal Party of Australia – but only after equal representation of women and men on all committees was guaranteed. In 1937 Ivy represented Australia at the League of Nations Assembly in Geneva, the only woman in the Australian delegation, later becoming Vice-president of the United Nations Association of Victoria for 18 years. She was also the first Chairwoman of its Status of Women Committee. </i>See rest of her speech in the <a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2022%20April%20Newsletter.pdf" target="_blank">April Newsletter</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11jyHX8bsQVvNmowqE1J412owBOzElaVU6rwmlayhpCCcF5GJFUcOr4ailSXZgjTQM-75xXTyoaL9xUZze2IKSkjJq9ApbS0nP9qL7JrN4vpZRP_B76wtZ9-HOy1c5_yFMbuSBZuPgwO3O4S4dsuI3KUshpYe4g3McVwf5SFMGzQFNJfoppD7mCNX/s1476/2022%2061%20Annual%20Pioneer%20Womens%20Ceremony%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1476" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11jyHX8bsQVvNmowqE1J412owBOzElaVU6rwmlayhpCCcF5GJFUcOr4ailSXZgjTQM-75xXTyoaL9xUZze2IKSkjJq9ApbS0nP9qL7JrN4vpZRP_B76wtZ9-HOy1c5_yFMbuSBZuPgwO3O4S4dsuI3KUshpYe4g3McVwf5SFMGzQFNJfoppD7mCNX/w535-h227/2022%2061%20Annual%20Pioneer%20Womens%20Ceremony%202.jpg" width="535" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><b>Mannie Kaur Verma, Director YWCA Victoria</b>, spoke as part of the panel representing four of the founding organisations of NCWV who met on 19 March 1902. She spoke with passion about the rich history of YWCA, the Victorian arm founded in Melbourne in 1882 by Sarah Crisp Booth. Mannie emphasised the strong bond between YWCA and NCWV 120 years ago and still there today with the commitment to gender equality unwavering. She stressed that such organisations who have stood the test of time have done so on the shoulders of remarkable women who paved the way. And while across YWCA’s 140-year history many things have changed, the intention to support all women to aim high and live a noble life has not. Indeed, for both organisations, a desire to best serve the women and girls of Victoria and Australia remains. That desire driven by the remarkable women of these organisations has helped reduce the gender pay gap, delivered family law reform and improved support for survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence. These are just a few of the ways the NCWV has also made a significant contribution to making gender equality a reality, which YWCA has been proud to support as an affiliate. However, she emphasised that work is not over. Mannie, as a lawyer who specialises in domestic violence, sees how far too many women and girls struggle to access the support they need, navigate the complex legal system and find the resources they need to rebuild their lives. The fight for gender equality and to ensure all women and girls can live that noble life is not done.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Beverley Kannegiesser, The Austral Salon Melbourne and NCWV Committee member</b> (above), spoke about the rich history of The Austral Salon of Music founded in 1890 by a group of strong and talented women journalists who based the Austral Salon on similar overseas clubs. She explained that the Austral Salon was to be a meeting place for professional women to discuss current issues, be a platform for informative speakers, for dramatic and musical entertainment. The members were heavily involved in the rights of women and social welfare. They encouraged and financially supported young artists, mainly singers and was also a generous philanthropic group. One of the earliest acts was to send Tilly Aston, a blind girl, to university. Tilly became a leader and a wonderful contributor to society. She is remembered by the federal seat of Aston and the three bells memorial located on the way to the Pioneer Women’s Garden. Beverley spoke of Agnes Murphy, one of the founding journalists, a trail blazer as a journalist, author, radical suffragist, political activist, and as a gifted speaker. Newspapers at the time facetiously described her as ‘pen lady in chief to Melbourne society’, and ‘high priestess of the Austral Salon’. At an Austral Salon meeting in 1891, Agnes gave a lecture titled ‘Letters and Letter Writing’, … referencing an affectionate letter from Napoleon to Josephine; a brutal one from Lord Byron to Lady Caroline Lamb, and an amusing letter by an Irish leader in the rebellion of 1798. In the discussion that followed, it was suggested that telegrams had killed private letter writing, what would they have thought of our present-day emails or worse our tweets. See rest of Beverley’s talk in the </span><a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2022%20April%20Newsletter.pdf" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">April Newsletter</a>.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQUQvOAMnBEWcM0o1SL1WX9MCQ2u4hpA8SjrGcGwXPEDFyru6ZRLAWkAflGm1Upbi-v-dQ5U8DkUd1-G-EUlfrVkDtNFoaBzfI93QkIZB6-UUdDfHZAg_bb-BAwb9thFTs1HOc-RbIp6GUjrprinVAHzLOG9G4WyHlt3gouRG5JG-kCmLP9I8lhbN/s1417/2022%2061%20Annual%20Pioneer%20Womens%20Ceremony%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1417" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQUQvOAMnBEWcM0o1SL1WX9MCQ2u4hpA8SjrGcGwXPEDFyru6ZRLAWkAflGm1Upbi-v-dQ5U8DkUd1-G-EUlfrVkDtNFoaBzfI93QkIZB6-UUdDfHZAg_bb-BAwb9thFTs1HOc-RbIp6GUjrprinVAHzLOG9G4WyHlt3gouRG5JG-kCmLP9I8lhbN/w507-h255/2022%2061%20Annual%20Pioneer%20Womens%20Ceremony%203.jpg" width="507" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Jan Shattock, Executive member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Victoria (WCTU)</b>, spoke about the purpose of the WCTU from its origin in 1897, set out in its motto – “For God, Home and Humanity”. This was updated in the 1990s to “To promote a Drug-Free Lifestyle and Christian Values in the Home and Community.” Throughout its long history, WCTU has worked and written letters to Members of Parliament and other relevant authorities about issues with which it is concerned, particularly regarding alcohol policy, moral issues and the welfare of women and children, especially regarding family violence. Submissions have been made to ANZFA and others regarding the need for warning labels on alcoholic drinks concerning the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant. A highlight at this time was the hosting of the WCTU World Convention in 1995 held at the Townhouse Hotel. Jan spoke enthusiastically about the Drug Education in Schools, developed in the 1970s and 80s. … By 2010, there were two … with about 1000 Grades 5/6 and Years 7/8 students annually in State and Christian Schools (country and city) receiving greatly appreciated presentations … </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">“Take note, babies and booze don’t mix. No alcohol is the best fix.” Thousands of these sticky note pads were distributed to doctors, Infant Welfare Centres, and anywhere else members went. In 2018 and 2018 advertisements about FASD on buses, …with a no alcohol symbol and message, “For baby’s sake THINK – DON’T DRINK especially if pregnant or hoping to be pregnant.” See rest of Jan’s talk in the </span><a href="https://ncwvic.org.au/files/2022%20April%20Newsletter.pdf" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">April Newsletter</a>.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-1859625283082518322021-06-16T06:26:00.004+10:002021-08-19T12:36:31.906+10:00Students Take Over Parliament! Spread the word to schools<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_-LSbhD15wT2yCSuh5cRQmEzBPwTNd2SpsaUFaLEXH93N44La8KGL-CfROf1owTj8PJlCTUdMvqFc4DUPfnWxNAQbiLZrW8sUuibPTTENwuu5o6MWqX8j9MvlvD-1sINQ8kqILYSsho/s1205/2021+My+Vote+My+Voice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1205" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_-LSbhD15wT2yCSuh5cRQmEzBPwTNd2SpsaUFaLEXH93N44La8KGL-CfROf1owTj8PJlCTUdMvqFc4DUPfnWxNAQbiLZrW8sUuibPTTENwuu5o6MWqX8j9MvlvD-1sINQ8kqILYSsho/w400-h266/2021+My+Vote+My+Voice.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />The outstanding annual student event <i><b>My Vote My Voice</b></i>, conducted by the National Council of Women of Victoria, is being held in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament House Melbourne on the new date of <b>Monday November 8th 2021, 9:00-12:30pm</b>, due to the COVID situation and one person per 4sq metres limit.<br /><br />Students from government and independent schools in Melbourne and Geelong, covering the full spread of multicultural backgrounds in our Victorian community, will address the topic: <b>My Vote My Voice: Democracy - Past; Present; Future. Is politics structured to benefit society in the future?</b> This is designed to encourage students to consider what the future political system may look like in order to benefit all of society in the future. <br /><br />Students carry out research, collect data from their peers and others to gain views on the future of our political system. Students are invited to make a group presentation of their findings in the Legislative Council Chamber.<br /><br />At this event, we will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the forerunner to the League of Women Voters, Australia and the 75th+1 of LWV Victoria. <b>Keynote speaker will be distinguished Professor Marilyn Lake AO</b>, sharing the history of voting in Victoria, when women were first able to vote, when voting became compulsory and the part LWVV played.<br /><br /><br />The quality of past student presentations has been outstanding and inspiring, so there is no reason why these students should not make a genuine and valuable contribution to the challenges of improving the participation of Victorian Youth in our democratic processes.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -44.85pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -44.85pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>For
further information please contact <a href="mailto:info@ncwvic.org.au" rel="nofollow"><b>Pam
Hammond,</b> Convenor</a></i></span></p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><p></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-28789815028833258482021-04-28T19:29:00.003+10:002021-04-28T19:29:44.445+10:00Workplace Gender Equality by Guest Speaker Libby Lyons<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDwrhdFiJKQL8o40aQ1hi5vhuFWNnf7hdl2BLWk0XUxwy2YKktvdKWh0_IvVud8Tut8xclpRZ5L-6d_uXeMzd5m7ju41ENNbemSQzp9UKI4dU9dSXkmO7Ub4Pl7L2JDX0ZnpLoJKOzZw/s192/2021+April+Forum+Libby+Lyons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="NCWV April Forum Guest Speaker Libby Lyons" border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDwrhdFiJKQL8o40aQ1hi5vhuFWNnf7hdl2BLWk0XUxwy2YKktvdKWh0_IvVud8Tut8xclpRZ5L-6d_uXeMzd5m7ju41ENNbemSQzp9UKI4dU9dSXkmO7Ub4Pl7L2JDX0ZnpLoJKOzZw/s16000/2021+April+Forum+Libby+Lyons.JPG" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />At the April 2021 Council meeting, guest speaker: Ms Libby Lyons, Director, Australian Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> dealing with non-public sector organisations with 100 or more employees – including Victorian organisations, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">spoke about gender Equality. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">She was appointed in October 2015. She has chosen to leave her current position, after 5.5 years. On a personal note, Libby is granddaughter of Australian PM Joseph Lyons (1932-39) and equally eminent Dame Enid Lyons MP.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Libby is excited that new legislation in gender equality is coming but sexual harassment is common in the workplace. WGEA’s budget is $5 million per annum and she is proud of the many achievements of her “great staff”. Data collected annually over 8 years, from 4.3million employees in 11,000 organisations with 100 plus employees, makes Australia the envy of the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There has been improvement for women in 5 of the past 7 years. However there is concern that the reality of gender equality is stalling in the last 2 with some complacency, box ticking, apathy and loss of momentum.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Action plans are needed as gender pay gap has increased by 5%, a result in part of higher bonuses, shift allowances etc paid to men, hiring biases and women moving in and out of the workforce to have children. However, more companies are analysing their actual pay gaps to identify that a gap exists. Some deny having a gap and are shocked when data shows the actual difference in take-home pay for women. While equal pay is required under legislation, gender pay gap equals the average difference in pay to men versus women, such as more men in management roles, women’s time-outs, part-time work of women which is 3 times that of men, fewer promotions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Pre-COVID most women worked within a gender equality policy, 40% of managers were women, 45% of promotions were to women but in the ranks of CEOs, only 18.3% were women. Sadly, the glass ceiling is alive and well. No paid parental leave was paid by 25% of companies (and thus no superannuation accruing during leave). Libby believes that men should be paid parental leave, particularly so that the female partner can return to work sooner if desired.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Victoria leads the way in gender equality and 70% of companies in Victoria have a Domestic Family Violence Policy. Ms Lyons spoke about the complimentary work done by SAGE (Science in Australia Gender Equity), WGEA and the Victorian Gender Equity Commission to address gender equity without replicating employer reporting obligations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ms Lyons highlighted the following</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">1. Provision of affordable childcare which is a State Government issue, saying childcare should be an add-on to universal education for children.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">2. Paid parental leave should exist for all eligible parents. Men need to be able to take parental leave to free up their partner to return to work if desired.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">3. Flexible working hours for men should be normalised. However, men tend to be present in person in the workplace more often than women, making decisions and sharing ideas. Women may miss out on promotions at times through not requesting it, or being on leave.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Middle age is now defined at around 56 and we are not deemed “elderly” until we reach 80. Many want to work into their 60s but are overlooked for being too old, with some young people missing jobs due to inexperience! The plan is for date of birth of employees to be collected to assist in following the career trajectory of individuals, age of various groups and the age at which people leave jobs, to help policy development. This will be vital data.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Data regarding training against harassment and discrimination is not available. Many women are angry about discrimination and concerned about treatment of women in the justice and legal system being dominated by men, with too often women deemed to be the “guilty party”.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Most men are good so we should not develop a women vs men mentality. The Federal Government is beginning to see the need for change with PM Scott Morrison appointing more women and to new positions. We must bring men with us, not push them away.</span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-38332165603847961342021-03-15T19:58:00.002+11:002021-03-15T19:58:18.764+11:00Equal Opportunities for all Women in Australia and Overseas by Guest Speaker Dr Niki Vincent<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnO0ryKHspCEceNF4e2eL4796TG6T40DHiDMD7ZocXYaOK72SGVc4jIvD4wZxWK9meVpkr8OvDjQDtlZsh9aUxxktB_TBY1dE2HTj6CBUTwOA8QrsjpGWgfq9TBfh_r0ew_ywPU2hc78/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnO0ryKHspCEceNF4e2eL4796TG6T40DHiDMD7ZocXYaOK72SGVc4jIvD4wZxWK9meVpkr8OvDjQDtlZsh9aUxxktB_TBY1dE2HTj6CBUTwOA8QrsjpGWgfq9TBfh_r0ew_ywPU2hc78/" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="157" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnO0ryKHspCEceNF4e2eL4796TG6T40DHiDMD7ZocXYaOK72SGVc4jIvD4wZxWK9meVpkr8OvDjQDtlZsh9aUxxktB_TBY1dE2HTj6CBUTwOA8QrsjpGWgfq9TBfh_r0ew_ywPU2hc78/w200-h143/image.png" width="200" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />At the February 2021 Council Meeting, guest speaker, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr Niki Vincent, appointed Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Public Sector for Victoria in September 2020, spoke about her new role and passion for equal opportunities for all women in Australia and overseas She shared a little of her own story, telling us that she left home at 15, was married at 18 and had four children by 28, but had not let obstacles stand in her way, fighting for better conditions for women, especially those who are working and caring alone for their families, while men advance without the dual role of homemaker and primary carer. Some employers do not make allowances for </span><b style="font-family: arial;">women’s unique situation or for the constraints imposed</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> more significantly on them by COVID-19 . There is also no measure of unpaid care. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The new [Victorian] Gender Equality Act that comes into law from 31 March 2021 excites Dr Vincent as it covers the work practices and gender equity realities of 300 Public Service entities with more than 50 employees imposing mandatory Gender Equality Action Plans with indicators including gender composition, recruitment and promotion policies and practices, leave, and gender pay equity. Dr Vincent told us that there is at least 10% less pay for women in similar jobs in the Public Service at present. The effectiveness of the implementation of each entity’s Gender Equality Action Plans will be audited by her Department every four years and entities are required to self-report their progress every two years. Dr Vincent informed us that she and her team are working closely with unions and the Victorian Human Rights Commissioner. The introduction of the Act will be accompanied by a travelling “roadshow” led by her, including training for leaders who will train others. She is optimistic that awareness of inequality for women in Victoria will increase and be addressed, but has grave concerns for women in third-world countries.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Link to the Gender Equality Commission in Victoria:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.genderequalitycommission.vic.gov.au/gender-impact-assessments" target="_blank">Gender impact assessments | Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.genderequalitycommission.vic.gov.au/gender-impact-assessments" target="_blank">Gender impact assessments from 31 March 2021. </a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.genderequalitycommission.vic.gov.au/guidance" target="_blank">Guidance for defined entities to comply with the Act 2020.</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Tools and resources are located at <a href="https://www.genvic.org.au/pdf/GENVIC%20Advocacy%20Toolkit.pdf" target="_blank">Gender Equity Victoria Advocacy Toolkit - Gen Vic</a>; Visit <a href="http://www.genvic.org.au" target="_blank">Gender Equity Vitoria</a> for guidelines on gender advocacy in the community. Advocacy is part of a broader movement to: • advance gender equity within Victoria; • promote better health outcomes for women and girls in our ; • prevent violence against women and girls before it happens.</span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-55720708059136571472021-02-20T15:33:00.005+11:002021-02-22T19:00:15.253+11:0060th Australia Day Pioneer Women’s Ceremony, 2021<p><span style="font-family: arial;">60th Australia Day Pioneer Women’s Ceremony, 2021 was held at the Women’s Peace Garden, Kensington, a beautiful garden created by women in the International Year of Peace in 1986. This annual event celebrates Victorian Pioneer Women, conducted by the National Council of Women of Victoria, to acknowledge past and present women pioneers and includes a colour party and flag raising by Girl Guides Victoria and the singing of the National Anthem.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDr8Ph946mHfPzJd4MCgfiH-KF_KENfHapfzuqyDojtHq0uADjPd_Lh6tZXRgH-96H7b4-VkIXuQb7JWUmco8h-KGVrx4HbQ_ajRJfmDmyhBzawjOEoz4xtQ4J63OSotPCYZlWbB_pyko/s449/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Women%25E2%2580%2599s+Ceremony.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="449" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDr8Ph946mHfPzJd4MCgfiH-KF_KENfHapfzuqyDojtHq0uADjPd_Lh6tZXRgH-96H7b4-VkIXuQb7JWUmco8h-KGVrx4HbQ_ajRJfmDmyhBzawjOEoz4xtQ4J63OSotPCYZlWbB_pyko/w400-h300/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Women%25E2%2580%2599s+Ceremony.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This year, the focus was on <b>Victorian Pioneer Women in Medical Research</b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There have been many women working in medical research over the past 100+ years including: Fannie Eleanor Williams, the first female medical research scientist at the Walter and Eliza Institute, and the first bacteriologist and serologist. She was an expert in dysentery due to her research during WW1, and was awarded the Associate Royal Red Cross for her work. She co-founded the Red Cross Blood Bank. Dora Lush, an accomplished bacteriologist, was a close collaborator with <a href="https://www.wehi.edu.au/about-history/past-directors/sir-frank-macfarlane-burnet" target="_blank">Sir Macfarlane Burnet</a> 1934-39 researching diseases including influenza, herpes infections and myxomatosis. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Guest Speaker, <b>Professor Susan Sawyer, Chair of Adolescent Health, Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne, research fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Director of the Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children’s Hospital</b>, spoke on three themes: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Firstly, the importance of investing in medical research, and the value of evidence informed public health policies exemplified by reminding us of some of the highlights of our 2020 pandemic year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The second theme was about the strong track record of Victorian women in medical research, sharing the achievements of two remarkable Victorian women pioneers of medical research, one, Vera Scantlebury Brown, in research and public policy from 100 years ago and the other in virology, Dr Ruth Bishop, from 50 years ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Thirdly, Susan shared her background in ground-breaking adolescent health and medicine. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://ncwvic.org.au/files/2021%20NCWA-%20Susan%20Sawyer's%20speech%20Australia%20Day%20Pioneer%20Women's%20Ceremony.pdf">>> Click here to read Professor Susan Sawyer, speech</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9Bjps2wkhYBUJo2CXzHfKPorTJEe5s-9kWbMaRbinZIfzP0U26LeHZCxG_ljP_dyWoN4TnNwi5EpQxS2EPkv725lai2WFnVGY9QUvMqvDl9C3Sc2Oanm-V3tcI-SOczQ9Y_zJ728QkI/s2048/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Womens+Ceremony+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9Bjps2wkhYBUJo2CXzHfKPorTJEe5s-9kWbMaRbinZIfzP0U26LeHZCxG_ljP_dyWoN4TnNwi5EpQxS2EPkv725lai2WFnVGY9QUvMqvDl9C3Sc2Oanm-V3tcI-SOczQ9Y_zJ728QkI/w266-h400/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Womens+Ceremony+1.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCYq5Ctv_u2uzN4Jdu77KMcLkPplVRE2O65jwmqfVtDbJOuCckAIwUVp-uKnBZO0L-Eu-J72H-Y-jMaDce6s0NC0Uxvc8lVNNYrHQZLkRAxlItoGJxz32lR2BmCuLBQss8GU-mhuUeOY/s2048/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Womens+Ceremony+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCYq5Ctv_u2uzN4Jdu77KMcLkPplVRE2O65jwmqfVtDbJOuCckAIwUVp-uKnBZO0L-Eu-J72H-Y-jMaDce6s0NC0Uxvc8lVNNYrHQZLkRAxlItoGJxz32lR2BmCuLBQss8GU-mhuUeOY/w400-h266/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Womens+Ceremony+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlhmSQH9I878Mt-AOBLxt_WjCWoNjEP2r2fwB1_8MCnbUh5nOzjblrR_AiezVlYB7t6old9Tgf940zdJI8IxzYjeECpQ45VlgR-Wh1FZepmhEMeWuWcorwLGpFZYSkTdY80qizCBiIy0/s2048/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Womens+Ceremony+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlhmSQH9I878Mt-AOBLxt_WjCWoNjEP2r2fwB1_8MCnbUh5nOzjblrR_AiezVlYB7t6old9Tgf940zdJI8IxzYjeECpQ45VlgR-Wh1FZepmhEMeWuWcorwLGpFZYSkTdY80qizCBiIy0/w400-h266/2021+60th+Australia+Day+Pioneer+Womens+Ceremony+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-15346116699079640922020-09-23T20:11:00.001+10:002020-09-23T20:11:49.358+10:00August Council Meeting Speaker: The Honourable Diana Bryant AO, QC<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK76KYje0M7FF5RwlvYfbueI2y3EsexrgpqTlV1zBfykyjLJafa_T8L0llw8W_qWsqc_vqUiJXXOEGEJM343k2b7T47rD8eAkelfWgwj7gUKwiRq6H1X2iGYGdv7W5L5YJRGxiFiXOkw/s403/2020+The+Honourable+Diana+Bryant+AO%252C+QC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="389" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioK76KYje0M7FF5RwlvYfbueI2y3EsexrgpqTlV1zBfykyjLJafa_T8L0llw8W_qWsqc_vqUiJXXOEGEJM343k2b7T47rD8eAkelfWgwj7gUKwiRq6H1X2iGYGdv7W5L5YJRGxiFiXOkw/s320/2020+The+Honourable+Diana+Bryant+AO%252C+QC.JPG" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p>Diana retired as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia in 2017 after 13 years, and 4 years prior to that as inaugural Chief Federal Magistrate of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia (now Federal Circuit Court of Australia).</i></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prior to her appointment to the Bench in 2000, she worked as a solicitor and barrister for 23 years in the area of family law. She was one of two Hague Network Judges for Australia in relation to the Hague Children’s Conventions and is Australia’s representative and Chair, international Working Group for The Hague Conference on Private International Law in relation to Child Abduction Convention.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">She spoke on the review of the Family Law Court, by informing the meeting that the original Bill to merge the Family Court with the Federal Circuit Court was withdrawn. There were many submissions received and amendments included, incorporating recommendations from these submissions. The updated Bill has gone to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee who will report to Parliament in November. This is Parliament working positively to ensure appropriate change occurs. One structure has been recommended with two Divisions – Family Law and Federal Circuit, which Diana believes is desirable, more practical, one set of rules, with one point of entry and one head for both the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFC). This also provides regulation of the number of trained judges in the Family Court. Diana would like to see this legislated. Paragraph 11(2)<i> provides that, by reason of knowledge, skills, experience and aptitude, the person is a suitable person to deal with matters of family law, including matters involving family violence…to be appointed as a Judge of the FCFC (Division 1) and exercise family law jurisdiction.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">There is currently a separate Appellate Division for appeals in the Family Court with 3 judges. This is under review with the possibility of one judge hearing appeals. There needs to be consistency with the trial judge. Submissions from women’s organisations and the legal profession have been mainly supportive of amendments with some reservations e.g., risk assessment and need for robust qualification process. There needs to be transparency in appointment of judges, with proper process, with specialist judges.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Most issues suggested remain and are working well. The Appeals Division needs to be maintained. The Government is funding a risk screening and triage pilot in the Adelaide, Brisbane and Parramatta registries of the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court of Australia. The pilot program is being implemented under the Lighthouse Project to provide guidance and support to families experiencing, or at risk of, family violence and other risk behaviours, much as a lighthouse provides light and navigation waypoint for ships.</span></p>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-87100730333041914182020-09-23T20:06:00.000+10:002020-09-23T20:06:25.870+10:00July Council Meeting Speaker: Tiffany Overall, Advocacy and Human Rights Officer at Youthlaw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg6QGkueREfgbT_QYjD0q13hH1Dm3nXRxzurOKiPXAoEib5nnf5uA8_UqvMyjG5q_t23orQ98HqNqMetZlikKvBn4kPA9G3F4gouZAF76-cd3Aghv51Jn0fQP8ZrGdfX9OphZ5UCPmA4/s351/2020+Tiffany+Overall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg6QGkueREfgbT_QYjD0q13hH1Dm3nXRxzurOKiPXAoEib5nnf5uA8_UqvMyjG5q_t23orQ98HqNqMetZlikKvBn4kPA9G3F4gouZAF76-cd3Aghv51Jn0fQP8ZrGdfX9OphZ5UCPmA4/s320/2020+Tiffany+Overall.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;">Speaker: Tiffany Overall, Advocacy and Human Rights Officer at Youthlaw, which is a specialist community legal centre in Victoria for young people under 25 years. Tiffany is also Convenor of Smart Justice for Young People (SJFYP).</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><br /></i></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Youthlaw works to achieve systemic responses to legal issues facing young people, through<br />casework, policy development, advocacy and preventative education programs, within a human rights and social justice framework. The SJFYP is a coalition of more than 50 organisations from the youth, legal and community sectors advocating for smart, evidence-based approaches to youth justice. Launched in November 2011, SJFYP promotes awareness of youth justice issues amongst the community, media and decision makers, to foster discussion, inform debate, encourage involvement of all concerned, and influence decision makers. Tiffany emphasised the focus on preventing young people becoming part of the justice system by supporting families and communities with strategies and practical methods to engage youth.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div>They also work with government departments and the police when young people do have</div><div>connection with the justice system. In the Youth Parole Board Annual Report, the Chairman</div><div>stated that “<i>We need to be recognising and confronting that 60% of those incarcerated are from the disadvantaged especially Aboriginal, Maori and Pasifka, East African; but also child</i></div><div><i>protection and ex-child protection children and young people.</i>” Tiffany regrets that the ‘law and</div><div>order’ narrative continues to hold, preventing a lot of what they are trying to do. Prison needs</div><div>to be the last resort, with cautioning and diversion programs a priority. The earlier young people have connection with the justice system, the more likely they are to get into crime. Solutions tailored to, and working together with, each community has shown to be the best way of avoiding this.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>School engagement is area in which they collaboratively work with partners, focusing on early</div><div>intervention suited to specific cultures, with clear commitments and targeted programs.</div><div>Children being held on remand do not have access to education programs. SJFYP tries to support them back into education or work on release. For those incarcerated, restorative programs are an option for courts, including conferences linking perpetrator with victim.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>There is a national campaign to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 years, as called for by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and implemented by several countries. Children’s brains are still developing at 10 years, especially in the part that controls</div><div>responsibility. Link to the National Campaign: <a href="https://www.raisetheage.org.au/">https://www.raisetheage.org.au/</a></div></div></span></div>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-51041384693998892852020-06-29T19:58:00.001+10:002020-06-29T19:58:48.969+10:00May Forum 2020: Gender Equity in Workplaces<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The National Council of Women of Victoria’s May Forum was cancelled due to COVID-19. The focus “Gender Equity in Workplaces”, instead became the topic for our May ZOOM Council Meeting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the proposed forum panel members, Professor Beth Gaze spoke at this meeting. Beth teaches Equality and Discrimination Law and Administrative Law at Melbourne Uni Law School. Her research interests are in anti-discrimination and equality law, feminist legal thought, administrative law and socio-legal research. She has conducted research into the enforcement process under Australian anti-discrimination law, experiences of applicants in the social security appeal tribunals, and the operation of adverse action provisions of the Fair Work Act. Beth spoke about the new Victorian Government Gender Equality Act 2020. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Act seeks to promote and improve gender equality across the Victorian public sector, local councils and universities. It involves innovative powers and processes that have not previously been used in Australian law. It will commence on 31st March 2021. The government is working on developing the framework for its implementation, driven by the Minister for Women, the Hon Gabrielle Williams, with input from the public including a Citizen’s Jury. It aims to take necessary and proportionate action towards achieving gender equality in policies and programs and delivering public services. Organisations need to undertake workplace gender audits, to assess gender equality and inequality in the workplace. These must be based on gender-disaggregated data and, if available, data about Aboriginality, age, disability, race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion and sexual orientation. They need to develop and implement Gender Equality Action Plans in 2021, updated every four years, with Progress shown every two years against gender equality indicators. The Minister is also required to develop a State Gender Equality Action Plan every four years that will set a framework for taking coordinated action in Victoria to build behavioural, attitudinal, structural and normative change to improve gender equality, including a framework for progress on workplace gender equality, programs and services. The Office for Women is developing guidance documents to support organisations in doing the audit, action plan, assessment and progress reporting. The Act also provides for creating gender targets or quotas requiring these to be taken into account in gender audits with ‘reasonable and material progress’ to be made towards targets and quotas, a first in Australian equality law. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXVkftN2qJv4WQfendwiXw8nfVYIgZvshaFXqwLdZouGz42G-spee_TW5GHvidlzIQjbhLBuhDjVeyLMD9rSRG4V8C98amOd9KyaHS8vDZDgB711QenchsfkKMK9xWh842TX1vEOEo2I/s1600/2020+NCWV+May+Forum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="344" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXVkftN2qJv4WQfendwiXw8nfVYIgZvshaFXqwLdZouGz42G-spee_TW5GHvidlzIQjbhLBuhDjVeyLMD9rSRG4V8C98amOd9KyaHS8vDZDgB711QenchsfkKMK9xWh842TX1vEOEo2I/s320/2020+NCWV+May+Forum.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr Deborah Towns OAM then spoke on other Gender Equity issues. The private sector is covered nationally by the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012. Commonwealth Government in 1984 introduced the Sex Discrimination Act. Other legislation at State and Federal level have passed, with Human Rights Commissioner and officer appointments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Progress towards equal pay has a longer history. In 1903 equal pay for equal work was on the agenda at NCWV’s Congress. The industrial relations system endorsed this in 1969. However, there is still a gender wage gap today, with overall gender pay gap of 13.9% in Australia for full-time workers. When broken down into sectors it gets interesting, e.g., in finance and insurance where 1000s of women work the pay gap is 22%, also in professional, scientific and technical work; and 22.3% in health care and social services. In education and public administration (70% are women) the pay gap is 12%. Many women work in caring, cleaning, catering and retail, often not full-time, poorly paid, with little opportunity to adequately support themselves, or their families if they are sole parents, and save for their retirement through superannuation and in other ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Male Champions of Change was established in 2010 to lead action on gender equality in workplaces, now with over 200 leaders of business, government, universities and military representing many different workplaces across Australia. They publish annual reports on progress and guidelines on how workplaces can change gender pay gap. Despite this there has been little to no change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-41712671527882234562020-06-28T12:56:00.000+10:002020-06-28T12:56:12.205+10:002019: Mental Health Submission to the Victoria Royal Commission<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prepared September 2019, with input from Council Members of NCWV, by Elisabeth Newman, NCWV </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On behalf of the National Council of Women of Victoria (NCWV), I applaud Federal Government for calling </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for a much needed inquiry into Aged Care. I also thank the National Council of Women of Australia for </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">encouraging Constituent Councils, such as NCWV to make submissions in their own name direct to the Royal </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Commission. NCWV is an NGO representing some 30 like-minded NGOs and a similar number of Individual </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">members whose purposes are to:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">provide a non-party political, non-sectarian, not-for-profit, umbrella organisation with humanitarian </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and educational objectives, empowering women and girls and raising awareness of gender equality;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">act as a voice on issues and concerns of women and girls at a State level;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">develop policies and responses on behalf of women and girls on a State-wide basis;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">maintain and strengthen the Association’s relationship with all members;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">link with women in Australia and the International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) through the National </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Council of Women of Australia and contribute to the implementation of their plans of action and policies.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With these purposes in mind, NCWV is alarmed at the abuse that many elderly citizens receive whether it be in residential care or living at home, therefore is pleased to be able to make comment on the care of the elderly. Three points that form the basis of good care negating abuse and discrimination of the elderly are:</span></div>
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To be treated with respect and dignity should be at the forefront of all interactions with the elderly. Recognition of their abilities and contribution to society is essential and continued contribution to be encouraged.</div>
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Recognition for the care of the elderly as being a highly specialised profession. Staff need to be valued and treated with dignity, otherwise how can one expect them to show compassion to the elderly under their care. The care of the elderly is a highly skilled profession and needs to be recognised by all as such, including the operators of aged care facilities and at-home aged care packages.</div>
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Requirement that education and good training for all involved in all fields of the care of the elderly. Staff should receive good, appropriate training and remuneration, as for other specialties in health and nursing care.</div>
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<a href="http://ncwvic.org.au/files/2019%20submission%20Royal%20Commission%20Aged%20Care%20Qyuality%20and%20Safety.pdf" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-size: 13.2px;">Click here to read the full submission.</a></div>
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NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7533058298172833185.post-38158530021621862142020-06-28T12:50:00.000+10:002020-06-28T12:56:02.880+10:002019: Mental Health Submission to the Victoria Royal Commission<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Prepared September 2019, with input from Council Members, by Elisabeth Newman, NCWV President.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On behalf of the National Council of Women of Victoria (NCWV), I applaud the Andrews’ Government calling for a Royal Commission to report on the state of Mental Health within the State of Victoria. I thank the Commission for giving NCWV the opportunity to make a submission at this late date. NCWV is an NGO representing some 30 like-minded NGOs and a similar number of Individual members whose purposes are to:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">provide a non-party political, non-sectarian, not-for-profit, umbrella organisation with broadly humanitarian and educational objectives, empowering women and girls and raising awareness of gender equality;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">act as a voice on issues and concerns of women and girls at a State level;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">develop policies and responses on behalf of women and girls on a State-wide basis;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">maintain and strengthen the Association’s relationship with all members;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">link with women in Australia and the International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) through the National Council of Women of Australia and contribute to the implementation of their plans of action and policies.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">With these purposes in mind, NCWV acknowledges good mental health is essential for good general wellbeing of the community. It is concerned about the general well-being of people, particularly women and girls; It was not until 2011 that the importance of good mental health was fully recognised globally and firmly placed on the agenda of the United Nations and its agencies. An ICW-CIF Representative to the UN was one of those advocating for such recognition. It is pleasing to see the importance of mental health being recognised, but sadly the general care of those suffering from mental illness requires review and the need for the stigma to be removed. This came through in an MSO film clip/documentary, “A dangerous son”, made in the US by producer Liz Garbus for Firecracker, shown by QANTAS in September 2019. With a grandson on the Autism spectrum I, the author of this submission could relate to much of the documentary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ncwvic.org.au/files/2019%20%20Mental%20Health%20submission%20to%20the%20Vic.%20Royal%20Commission.pdf">Click here to read the full submission.</a></span></div>
NCWVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403092972348000926noreply@blogger.com0