International Women’s Day 2024

International Women’s Day (IWD) is for the women’s health sector what Christmas is to the retail sector, a busy time of high demand and great celebration. And so it was last week as we marked this year’s theme – Count her in. Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.

Celebrating women 

Across the Barwon South West, we recognised and celebrated local women for their dedication to community, their efforts on big issues like climate change, their commitment to the economic empowerment of other women, and for inspiring others.

So many women in our region make a tremendous impact on the people, places and communities around them and I was privileged to attend and present awards to some of those women at IWD events.

Women supporting women

As we celebrated the women in our region I was struck by the power and prevalence of women supporting other women.  Women who have mentored and coached others to build skills, undertake training, or grow their careers to secure their economic future.  This is such a valuable contribution in an era where the highest growth in homelessness is amongst women over 65 years old.

We heard stories of women who banded together to activate working groups that rejuvenated public spaces to boost economic, social and wellbeing outcomes in their communities and deliver tangible change.

There is something quite amazing and incredibly valuable that happens when women put effort into supporting and uplifting each other.

Our humble heroes

I was struck by the humble surprise with which many women received their well-deserved awards, some clearly shocked to be nominated and many making mention of the work of other women.

Women can be conditioned to downplay their successes and not ‘boast’ about their accomplishments. So, it’s not really a revelation that some women will be uncomfortable receiving credit for their good work in the community. 

We all expect to see victorious tennis or cricket players hoisting a trophy, champion footy stars carrying team mates on their shoulders or season winning race drivers having a celebratory “shoey” in recognition of their achievements.  We are proud of their accomplishment; we share their joy and cheer that they celebrate their success. 

So why is it that many women, whether consciously or subconsciously, feel obliged to deflect recognition or downplay their achievements within the community?   Perhaps the “Matilda effect” and the increasing profile of women in sport and our shared joy at their successes will start to normalise women celebrating their own achievements.

One amazing woman, and award recipient, told me that she didn’t understand why she was nominated for just doing what she thought was good and useful.  Prior to receiving a nomination, she hadn’t been aware that there were any community awards for women. She said “now that I know, I’ll be nominating loads.”

This demonstrably selfless, community minded, proactive woman, like so many others, sat uncomfortably with praise of her own work, yet she was eager to recognise the good work of others.

Let’s walk with pride

It’s important that we continue to recognise the many and varied achievements of women.  It’s equally important that we create an environment where women can comfortably, proudly and joyfully accept that recognition. 

I hope that when International Women’s Day comes around next year, we see more women walk confidently to the podium to accept their awards with pride as well as humility.  Let’s commit to accepting recognition unapologetically, even if it feels inwardly uncomfortable, because we need to model that its normal, joyful and important to