Event panel to address equality

An International Women’s Day panel discussion in Horsham will explore the 2023 event theme, Embracing Equity, with a particular focus on how being rural impacts efforts for equality in the Wimmera.

An organising committee has scheduled the event for March 1 at Federation University in Horsham – a week prior to the annual, global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women; it also marks a call to action for accelerating equality.

Wimmera people will hear from a panel of speakers including Dr Cathy Tischler, who leads the Future Regions Research Centre – Horsham hub of Federation University.

The centre delivers research to improve knowledge about rural communities and their needs, with a particular emphasis on western Victoria.

Dr Niki Vincent, Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Public Sector; Onella Cooray, program associate, Champions of Change Coalition; and Ashlea Edwards, See What You Can Be equality advocate will join Dr Tischler, discussing how patterns of work including part-time work and workplace flexibility occur in a rural context, and opportunities to support change.

Dr Vincent is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the ‘Gender Equality Act 2020’ and plays a key leadership role in promoting gender equality in the Victorian community and workplaces.

Her work funded the research centre to explore ‘Rurality and workforce participation: Exploring prevalence of part-time and insecure work in Grampians public service roles’.

Dr Tischler said the research was exploring the challenges of living rurally and participating in work.

“The research our team is doing locally explores how ‘being rural’ can sometimes make it harder to reach equality in our workplaces. There are different challenges for both employers and employees as a result of living in a rural area,” she said.

“While our government has a strong commitment to equality, it is important that we understand these differences.

“This will help everyone to support local efforts by workplaces, as well as seeing where expectations of employers and employees may need to shift, and highlight gaps in structures and systems that are needed for rural people to be able to work.”

Horsham East Rotary Club is among the organising groups.

Event organisers and supporters also include Women’s Health Grampians, Federation University, Horsham Rural City Council, ACE Radio and The Weekly Advertiser.

Rotary representative Robyn Lardner said the event was the eighth of its kind in Horsham.

“Each year the event has a different format and focus. This year’s speakers’ panel will discuss the real-life challenges women of all ages are facing, which impact society broadly,” she said.

“International Women’s Day is a chance to continue to reflect on the continued fight for gender equality and the work that still needs to be done to ensure equality for all women.”

More details are available online via www. whg.org.au and tickets are available via www. events.humanitix.com/international-women-sday-panel