Let’s advance the cause of women every day

March is the month when our community comes together to celebrate our cultural diversity, our achievements as women, and the knowledge and experience of our elders. We do this through Harmony Day, International Women’s Day and Seniors Week.

 Various conversations have taken place over the years about the approach to these special dates, the true meaning behind these days and the marketing of them.

 For example in 1966 the UN proclaimed ‘International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’ , but in 1999 Prime Minister John Howard changed the name of the commemoration in Australia to Harmony Day.

 The UN has a theme for 2024 International Women’s Day that is ‘Count her in: Invest in women, accelerate progress’ however the NSW Government is going with the theme Inspire Inclusion. 

 NSW Seniors Week has a festival theme, Reach Beyond, but the UN’s International Day of Older Persons theme has not yet been released, and is celebrated in October.

 My point is, while there have been changes over time about more positive framing and debate about which is the ‘right’ theme to commemorate, I’d prefer to move beyond this and reflect – how inclusive is today’s society? How far have we progressed as women? How are we treating our older citizens?

 As we join hands this month to celebrate our rich tapestry as a multicultural society, are we simply preaching to the converted? The 2021 Australia Talks National Survey found a startling 76% of Australians from non-European background have experienced racial discrimination based on their ethnicity.

 We’ll be celebrating our achievements as women without new, meaningful and sustainable legislative changes and reforms that support women. Naming and shaming big companies for the gender pay gap is a step towards greater transparency, but we are yet to see how it will impact organisational policy change.

 Within 2 years, more than 22% of Australians will be aged over 65, and although aged care reforms sound promising we are yet to see what difference they will make in the life of our elders and how these reforms will allow people to live a life with dignity.

 Let’s make it our business to focus on these important issues every day. To advance the cause of women across the globe and demand measurable progress. To call out racial discrimination everywhere and every time we see it. To advocate for the meaningful participation and care of our seniors because guess what? Population ageing is an irreversible trend!

 Let’s have the events to draw attention and let’s attend them, but let’s also stop waiting for that one month to have the conversation. Let’s make it a daily one.

Elfa Moraitakis
Chief Executive Officer