News

Two Great Toolkits for Women out this Week

A toolkit to improve women's participation in male dominated industries and a toolkit to harness the talents of older women in the workplace have been released this week. 

Both toolkits go a long way to creating a vision for truly diverse and equal workplaces where women's work is celebrated. 

It's Crunch Time -Tell Parliament, Workers Need Time to Care

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The Government and politicians are currently considering whether workplaces should better accommodate requests for flexible work for carers. We say they should.

Budget 2013/14 - 'Business As Usual' Will Not Stem The Tide Of Housing Stress For Women

The 2014 budget shows a continued commitment to the Government’s goal of ensuring every Australian has access to a safe, secure and affordable home. However, the Equality Rights Alliance is deeply concerned that ‘steady as she goes’ is not an appropriate response to an escalating housing affordability crisis.

Is education and training sufficient for the economic security of women?

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One of ERA's sister alliances, Economic Security 4 Women is hosting a forum to consider how women and girls are doing in education today and identify the important issues we need to raise with the Australian Government and the wider community.

You must register by Wedneday the 5th of June (for all or any 3 of the events) here http://www.trybooking.com/CVUP. 

Where? Wednesday 12th June at the Freda Bage Room of the Women’s CollegeCollege Road The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus

Lobbying Toolkit to Recognise Paid and Unpaid work

The ACTU has recently released a "Time to Care" Campaign Lobbying Kit. The kit includes sample letters and emails to MPs, suggested messages and  campaign information including media releases, reports and articles. Check it out here.

Time to Care is about getting working arragnments that support our unpaid work commitments. 

Attention Women aged 18-23! Help Make Improvements to Women's Health!

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Participate in a nationally important survey on women's health. Your generation is counting on to have your say! It's quick. It's confidential and there are 100 $50 Eftpos vouchers to win. http://alswh.org.au/survey/

Sum of Her Parts -Young Women 18-23

Commission on the Status of Women 57 Agreed Conclusions

Thank you to the Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA) for providing us with an update on the CSW 57 outcomes. AWAVA has put together an advocacy guide on the outcomes which is very useful for people to prevent and respond to violence against women. We have also provided the agreed conclusions and Minister Julie Collins' speech on CSW. Follow link for these documents.

Do you give a Gonski?

The Australian Education Union is calling on women to show their support for the Gonski education reforms ahead of a crucial COAG meeting on 19 April.

The Gonski Review found that Australia is investing far too little in schools and the way the money is distributed is not efficient, effective or fair.

Gonski would provide an excellent education to every Australian child, regardless of their background, postcode or family income.

Make Sure Women's Work is Counted

We're asking you to fit another item onto your to do list today! Along with work, care, volunteering, cooking and cleaning, we're asking you to sign this very important petition calling on the Government to reinstate funding this Budget for the ABS Work, Life and Family Survey (WoLFS). This is becasue we want that caring, volunteering, cooking and cleaning work, that so many women do, recognised.

ACT Women's Grants now open!

The ACT Minister for Women, Joy Burch has called for applications for the ACT Women's grants. There are three different categories that applications can be entered under. 

Take to your keyboards to support and improve paid parental leave!

ERA is calling on everyone who has used the National Paid Parental Leave Scheme as an employer or employee to add their voice to discussions about the scheme’s future.

Training Scholarships available in South Australia

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The South Australian State Government will offer 25 women full scholarships to undertake a training course run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors to assist them to climb the corporate ladder.

The course will be held in August 2013. More information on the course is available from the Office for Women ar officeforwomen@dcsi.sa.gov.au or 83030961. 

Help us understand ACT women’s body image!

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All women living in the ACT over 17 years of age are needed for an online survey looking at women’s body image and satisfaction

The survey is being run by the Centre for Applied Psychology at the University of Canberra.

National Day of Action Against Bullying

Today is the National Day of Action Against Bullying here in Australia. 

For those interested in real social change and the prevention of bullying and violence, the Social Justice Education service provides a range of supports for leaders, managers, policy officers and practitioners, in government, schools and universities, and also works with social service and other education service organisations, and parent, childcare, community and sporting organisations. 

Visit www.teachjustice.com.au for more information. Kindly forward this notification through your networks.

Feminised Industries Some of the Most at Risk to Housing Stress

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Hairdressers, early childhood educators, cleaners and hospitality worker- industries dominated by women - are amongst those occupations most affected by housing stress in Australia. A new report Defaulting on the Australian Dream released by Australians for Affordable Housing

Homelessness Australia Media Release - Women more vulnerable than ever

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The face of homelessness is increasingly that of a woman. Women are more vulnerable than ever with a greater likelihood of experiencing poverty and violence, putting their risk of homelessness at an all time high. Is this the face we want to show to the world on International Women’s Day 2013?

Download the full media release below.

Reconciliation Australia recognises the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women through fact sheet

The contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to the nation, as mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunties, is immense. This fact sheet celebrates their efforts to build stronger communities and a more just Australia for the generations to come. 

This fact sheet is part of Reconciliation Australia's Let's Talk series. 

ACLW Panel on the Concerns of Women Experiencing Disadvantage in Australian Communities

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In the lead up to the upcoming Federal Election, ACLW will be running a Panel commencing on 22 March 13 to explore a range of issues that concern women who are disadvantaged in the Australian community. The Panel is still open to women who represent an organisation that assists women who are disadvantaged in the Australian community.

Last day to apply for the 2015 Development Agenda Conference

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Today is the last day to apply for the 2015 Development Agenda Conference.

Call to Action! Join Us!

This International Women’s Day, AWAVA wants to raise the profile of violence against women, and make it a topic of discussion in households around Australia and the world. We all know that the brighter we can shine a spotlight on this epidemic that affects 1 in 3 women around the world, the more action our communities and governments will take to end it, and make a real difference in the lives of women who are victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

It is AWAVA’s aim to raise awareness and get the conversation started by reaching out to the millions in the twitter-sphere and other social media spaces, and letting people know that violence against women must stop. On 8 March, International Women’s Day, we will be doing all we can to make ending violence against women (#endvaw) a  ‘trending topic’ –