Celebration and empowerment: International Women’s Day

On Friday 7 March, Oxley hosted an International Women’s Day breakfast, organised by the Empowerment Group. International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8 March worldwide. The day aims to raise awareness of the ongoing struggles of gender discrimination, violation of women’s rights, gender-based violence, and gender inequality. Women can face these challenges in places such as the workforce, health, and education. The day also celebrates the many achievements of women throughout history.

The statistics

Did you know that 1 in 3 females will experience sexual harassment during their lifetime? Last year alone, 1 woman was killed every 4 days by a man, usually domestic violence related, in Australia alone.

Over the past 12 months violence against women has been labelled a “national crisis.” 1 in 4 women have experienced violence by an intimate partner by the age of 15.

1 in 4 women have experienced emotional abuse by a cohabiting partner since the age of 15 and 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual violence from the age of 15 years old – according to the Australian government website.

However, women face more than just abuse. 

March Forward

This year’s theme, “March Forward”, is a powerful call to action emphasising the importance of progress in the continuous fight for gender equality. This theme encourages communities like Oxley to come together to support and motivate individuals of all genders.

It was great to see so many staff, parents, and students at the breakfast, and especially great to see so many males among these groups. This really reinforces the message that it is not just an issue for women to face alone, but instead that it’s a community-wide concern. The males in the room helped challenge gender stereotypes and demonstrated the importance of listening and understanding so that we can all learn from any situation.

At the breakfast we heard from four inspiring women on the panel who answered questions from a few of the Empowerment group members. Each of these inspiring women gave us an insight into the challenges they have faced throughout their careers and offered valuable advice they have taken away from their experiences.

Sascha Peldova-McClelland is an Oxley Alumni (Class of 2003); she is now a Senior Legal officer at the ACTU with carriage of gender equity and equalities issues. Throughout her career, she has been focused on getting excellent outcomes for workers through individual casework as well as systemic change through contribution to policy and law reform initiatives, particularly in relation to gender equity and LGBTQI+ issues.

Dr. Julia Atkin is universally recognised for her rich understanding of learning and thinking and for providing practical ways to support teachers and leaders in enhancing learning for all. Her international work includes NZ, USA, UK, OECD and the World Bank. Julia believes she has avoided a ‘used by date’ by focusing on what is fundamental and universal in learning, leading and design.

Shirley Chowdhary is an Australian Financial Review Women of Influence (2019) and was most recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Sydney in 2024. Shirley is currently the Chair of Women for Election and an external member of the University of Sydney Senate People & Culture Committee.

Emma Burniston, an esteemed Oxley Alumni (Class of 2002), is a dedicated and successful chiropractor who runs her own thriving practice. With a passion for supporting women, she also collaborates with entrepreneurial mums, helping them balance their businesses and personal lives. Emma’s journey began at Macquarie University, where she honed her skills before moving to London to establish her practice. Her commitment to empowering women is unwavering, making her a passionate advocate for female entrepreneurship.

The key messages and advice given by these inspiring women were:

• Women can do anything that men can do.
• Often facing challenges or setbacks gives you the opportunity to grow and learn.
• Challenge gender stereotypes and societal norms. Everyone has a role to play in promoting gender equality.
• The importance of building strong relationships and networks by being able to connect with others through shared experiences and support each other as collaboration can have a significant impact and drive change.
• It is important to advocate. Urging women to take on leadership roles within their fields and be vocal about their aspirations and be proud of their achievements.
• If you find it hard to speak up, talk to someone who you feel comfortable with sharing your situation with. For Shirley Chowdhary, she found that she could talk to her male boss about situations she felt uncomfortable in within her workplace. She found that he was a big advocate for her, and he spoke up and called things out when they were not right.
• Set goals and visions and create steps to achieve them. Reminding the audience that ambition is the key to overcoming barriers.
• It is important to take care of yourself to reach your full potential.

Change can only happen through increased awareness, not only amongst women but possibly, and more importantly, amongst men, as they are the perpetrators of the majority of gender-based issues facing women today. Men have a crucial role to play in nurturing understanding and driving change.

The Empowerment Group hopes to continue to shine the light on important issues that society and individuals face bringing our community together, and fostering a better understanding and collaboration, as we work for change.

Chloe S, Year 11