International Women’s Day
Our partnership with the United Services Club for a combined International Women’s Day luncheon on 7 March was a great success and saw just over $400 raised for the NCWQ Bursary Program.
The panel of speakers included financial advisor Helen Baker, founder of The Forgotten Women Project Teresa Reed, and NCWA President Chiou See Anderson speaking on the IWD 2024 theme of Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress. Discussion focused on the need for economic independence of women. There was also a call by Chiou See Anderson for more men to be involved in the conversation. Images from the event can be viewed here.
The International Council of Women (ICW) released a statement for IWD which can be accessed via their website. Read it here.
NCWQ 2024 Bursary Program
Our Bursary Team, led by Kathy Cavanagh, are preparing for the Bursary applications to open from 15 April. We have over 30 bursaries on offer for current female students ranging from those in their final year of secondary school to post grad studies. The bursaries are aimed at empowering women to complete their studies as education is the key to financial independence. Find out more about the bursaries here and please share this information within your networks as we want to encourage as many applicants as possible. NCWQ is very grateful to the many bursary sponsors who have helped build this program over the past 15 years. We are looking forward to presenting the 2024 Bursary Recipients on 20 July.
Advocacy Hub
Following a virtual meeting held on 14 March involving members interested in making a difference, it was agreed that NCWQ would focus on a few key issues, and take a team approach rather than coordinate multiple advocacy hubs. A pressing issue identified was education – specifically the release of the Australian University Accord. We moved quickly and took the opportunity to respond and make recommendations. I would like to thank our Advisors Des Taylor and Dr Pat Pepper for their guidance, and to the members who participated in the meeting and contributed to our letter including Dr Jeni Wellington, Wendy Pavey, Isabelle Logan, Bronwyn Ennis, Claire Moore, Ramona McGregor, Chiou See Anderson, Netta Finney, Olivia Anderson, Dana Voyle and Amanda Gerber. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Professor Christine Morley PhD from QUT who provided relevant research. The letter was submitted to the Federal Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, along with Queensland Ministers, the Hon Shannon Fentiman, MP and the Hon Di Farmer, MP and to Shadow Minister Amanda Camm, MP. You can read a copy of the letter here. It calls for:
- Fee Free higher education and preparatory courses going forward particularly for older women who are increasingly at risk and an underutilised resource and women reentering the workforce.
- Removal or reduction of the burden of debt of students of higher education by the removal of indexation to halt the spiralling debt of students and graduates.
- Paid placements and adoption of alternative approaches for students to undertake compulsory work experience to enable them to engage fully in their studies, improve retention and course completion.
- Career education from Prep to Year 12 to challenge stereotypes and encourage women into non traditional fields in particular STEM and trades.
April’s Guest Speaker
Our next NCWQ meeting is planned for 11 April and includes a virtual presentation by Samson Selladuri, Co-Founder of I’m Safe App. Members are invited to join from 6:45pm to hear about this new technology and how it is helping to keep women safe. The discussion leads into May which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Register here for the meeting.
– Sandy Smith
President
