Wednesday 8 March is International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
This year’s IWD theme #embraceequality aims to get people talking about why equal opportunities are no longer enough, and through working together we can embed actions in our daily lives to forge an inclusive world.
This IWD we will be running a Masterclass with special guest, Dr Lee Martin, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of International Business, The University of Sydney Business School. This session will help provide a deeper understand of intersectionality and why it is important to embrace equity to build women’s equality. The Masterclass will be followed by a Q&A session with a diverse panel from across Monash Health.
Dr Lee Martin, PhD, is an expert in the field of cross-cultural management. Her research and teaching provide insights into how organisations can harness cultural diversity in their workforce. Lee regularly presents her research at international conferences and is currently an Associate Editor of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: An International Journal. In 2021, Lee was recognised as one of 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australian for her leadership in the education field.
The Wednesday, March 8 panel will feature:
- Tamara Porter – Aboriginal Midwife, Women’s and Newborns Program, Monash Health
- Chirag Lodhia – Coordinator and Principal Trainer Digital Health, Monash Health
- Shelley Bryant – Head of Food Services, Monash Health
- Chris McLoughlin – Executive Director, People and Culture, Monash Health
- Kellie Hammerstein – Disability Lead, Monash Health
- Dr Ashlee Linck – Gender Equity Lead, Monash Health
- Victoria Roberts – Statewide Coordinator Community Health Nurses in MDCs, Youth and Family Department, Monash Health Community
Monash Health’s journey for gender equality formally began in June 2015 with the launch of the Women in Medicine program. In late 2018 the program morphed into our organisational program for Gender Equality under the broader Equity and Inclusion Strategy. Our first Gender Equality Action Plan launched in 2022, with a focus on activities to raise awareness, knowledge and skill development.
Associate Professor Anjali Dhulia, Monash Health’s Chief Medical Officer and Co-Chair Gender Equity Committee, highlights the importance of IWD and the need to embrace equity in our everyday actions.
“It is something we need to think about, know, and embrace. Working together we are implementing key actions and initiatives which positively influence and drive gender equality across our health service.”
An invite will be emailed to all employees closer to the day, and you can view the event listing here.
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.
Approved by A/Prof Anjali Dhulia