Meet the Candidate – Emma Davidson
10 September 2020
Emma Davidson is a former community sector worker and current convenor of Women’s Electoral Lobby Australia. Emma is running as a candidate for the ACT Greens in Murrumbidgee (Woden-Weston). Read our interview with Emma and hear what gender equality means to her below. What can you tell us about yourself and how you’ve found being […]
Towards 2024: Policy highlights and how you can get involved in our advocacy.
10 September 2020
YWCA Canberra recently released Towards 2024, our platform of policy priorities for the forthcoming ACT Election. Our priorities have been informed by the major themes which emerged from our 2019 survey Our Lives: Women in the ACT and policy responses from COVID-19. This pandemic has underlined the value of safe shelter and the role of […]
Equal Pay Day 2020
28 August 2020
Sadly, we continue to have no progress in 2020, with figures showing that the national gender pay gap has not improved since last year and remains at 14 per cent for full-time employees, a difference of $253.60 each week. And I fear that the progress we have made over the last few decades has a […]
Redefining ‘normal’ in a post-COVID world
13 July 2020
In this time of COVID-19, there is no question that many of us now lead very different lives than what we are used to. From issues of mass job loss, increased mental health problems, and financial instability, it is evident the virus has affected us all in more ways than one. But as we begin […]
Launch of YWCA Canberra’s 2020 Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan
3 June 2020
On behalf of the YWCA Canberra Board, I am so excited to announce the virtual launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan (our RAP) with all of you today. The RAP represents our commitment to continue to support First Nations women and families on Ngunnawal and Ngambri land. I’d like to begin by acknowledging the traditional […]
Women’s economic participation and the importance of Early Education after COVID-19
17 April 2020
COVID-19 has created unprecedented social and economic change. The broadscale closure of recreational activities and entertainment venues due to mandated social distancing regulations have transformed our social and economic lives to mere online operations. Some are fortunate enough to have retained their jobs and are working from home; many others no longer have a job, […]
Women’s frontline services working together during Covid-19
3 April 2020
With the escalation of COVID-19 in our community and the declaration of the public health emergency, we are preparing for an increase in demand for our essential support services. As parts of the community respond to COVID-19 by self-isolating or purchasing surplus essential food and personal items, the heightened stress on families is becoming evident. It is important to keep in mind that the home can often […]
A closer look into National Close the Gap day
19 March 2020
At YWCA Canberra, we are committed to building strong, positive relationships with people of all cultural backgrounds and ethnicity. We particularly hold strong respect towards people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and acknowledge the inter-generational consequences of colonisation that endure today. The National Close the Gap day takes place on, Thursday 19 March , and we wanted to reflect […]
The uncomfortable truth about sexual harassment in Australian workplaces
18 March 2020
In Australia, sexual harassment is widespread and pervasive. It is estimated that 85 per cent of women aged over 15 years have been sexually harassed at some point in their lives, carrying detrimental impacts on an individual’s physical, emotional, and psychological well being as well as their professional careers. According to the Sex Discrimination Act (Cth) 1984, […]
Occupancy Agreements– Why they matter to women
30 January 2020
If you’ve ever rented privately in the Canberra housing market, chances are you’ve signed a Residential Tenancy Agreement. These agreements are a legal document outlining the rights and obligations of landlords, agents and tenants who are party to the agreement, the scope and enforcement of which is subject to the Residential Tenancies Act However, while […]