‘Sharing the Caring’ celebrates International Women’s Day
The Office for Women’s Policy delivered an innovative two day program of events to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), in line with the theme of ‘Sharing the Caring’. Taking a different approach to previous years International Women’s Day 2009 combined a women’s personal experience about caring in a cultural context. It drew together academic and community representatives to share ideas and offered an opportunity for women to celebrate with the community.
Grace Vaughan Memorial Lecture (GVML)
Dr Tamara Mackean is the first Indigenous woman to deliver the GVML annual address. With over 60 people in attendance, Dr Mackean shared her own personal story while highlighting the Aboriginal kinship system. Her address spoke of the cultural transfer of caring and responsibility between granddaughters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers.
In her presentation Dr Mackean also touched on some of the history and traditions of the Walgen Clan of the Wongai Peoples in the Goldfields region.
Public symposium
It has long been known that women perform a large proportion of informal and unpaid care responsibilities. This IWD public symposium aimed to explore ways the Western Australian community could take on a stronger role of sharing the caring. Each presenter covered the topic of caring from their different perspectives and this was followed by a panel discussion. The presentations were delivered by:
• Lois Gatley, Chair of the Carers Advisory Council;
• Dr Tamara Mackean, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia; and
• Gordon Trewern, CEO of Nulsen Haven.
Audience members enjoyed a lively panel discussion on work-life balance and the gender stereotypes of caring.
Expo and Indigenous celebration
An expo and Indigenous celebration was held at Central TAFE in East Perth. Stall holders and community members came together to celebrate International Women’s Day and the vital role Indigenous women play in caring.
The Indigenous celebration, hosted by Channel Ten newsreader Narelda Jacobs, featured an opening performance by Kwarbah Djookian Dance Group and songs by Thalia Skopellos and Moana Dreaming, who mesmerised the audience with their beautiful lyrics and voices.
Another highly successful program for International Women’s Day for 2009!
Click here for a list of IWD community events.
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