September is the month of Women’s Health week and has been marked by the recent death of the legendary figure, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We thank her for her tenacity and persistence in addressing equality for women throughout her life and acknowledge that we will continue to carry the baton, until there is no difference in opportunities afforded to all women across all sectors of society.
Along the lines of gender equity, we warmly welcome the appointment of Niki Vincent as Victoria’s first Gender Equality Commissioner who will enforce equal opportunity laws across public service. In keeping with this thread, I was privileged to attend the launch of the first ever Gender Equity Training (GET) program, created by Women’s Health Victoria. This will be rolled out in teaching practice across the state and from 2021, The Gender Equality Act will require around 300 organisations to develop and implement a Gender Equality Action Plan, making the launch of the GET, very timely.
On the COVID-19 front, Victorian infection rates are declining yet the burden of COVID-19 has taken its toll on the mental health of the population we serve. Dealing with so much grief weighs us down, so it is important to check in on one another and try daily, to demonstrate some random acts of kindness to those around us. Given the impact of COVID-19 on our lives professionally and personally, I have designed a novel MWIA Mentoring- Buddy- Mentee program, which will soon be accessible through your VMWS membership. So please watch this space.
Our next meeting will be our AGM and will be held virtually on October 17th, making this one of the last addresses I make as President of VMWS. It has been my pleasure and privilege to lead this venerable organisation and I thank the wonderful team around me for all their support. I am a firm believer that ‘team work makes the dream work’.
