As a home care provider for vulnerable people in our community, and a network of businesses that employ a large amount of women, Right at Home celebrates International Women's Day 2023. Women’s rights have come a long way, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. On International Women’s Day, which takes place on the 8th of March every year, we celebrate the women who are leading the fight against gender bias. This year, UN Women wants to focus on how we can use innovation and technology to help empower women. The theme for 2023 is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

This year's theme aims to address violence towards girls and women in digital spaces. A UN Women study in 51 countries showed that 38% of women have been the victim of online harassment. By using technology to educate women we create greater potential for innovations that meet everyone’s needs.

International Women’s Day is one of the most important days of the year to raise awareness for gender equality and honour women’s achievements. We all play our part in building a world without gender bias, so if you want to celebrate International Women’s Day, here are eight things you can do!

1. Honour inspirational women

Women often don’t get the credit they deserve for their achievements. We can change that! Get together with colleagues and talk about the women who inspire you and why. This can be a woman in politics, an important figure in history, or your favourite artist.

2. Organise a book club

Meet up with a couple of colleagues or friends who love to read and suggest books written by women about women. Not only is this a great way to educate yourself and each other on women’s rights, it’s also a fun bonding opportunity!

Some book recommendations:

• Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
• Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Given
• A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
• Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
• We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

3. Support women-owned businesses

 If you can, try to support small women-owned businesses. By doing this, you contribute to equal economic empowerment and you help get a variety of products and services out there.

4. Meet up with women in your network

There’s no better way to learn more about other people's experiences than by taking the time to have a conversation with them. Try asking a woman in your personal or professional network to meet up (virtually or in person) and share your stories. This can be as quick as a 20-minute coffee break!

 Possible icebreakers:

 Have you experienced gender bias in your professional life? How did you deal with it?

• Do you have any role models that have positively impacted you?
• What does self-care mean to you?
• What advice would you give your younger self?

5. Donate to charity

There are many ways you can support women without spending money, but if you can and want to, there are local and global organisations that you can donate to. These charities do incredible work to create a world where women feel safe and free from gender inequality.

Charities supporting women: 

• SisterWorks: Supports women who are refugees, asylum seekers or migrants to improve their confidence, mental well-being and economic outlook.
• The Global Women’s Project: Their mission is to give women around the world the tools and resources they need to build better lives for themselves and their communities.
• Women’s Community Shelters: This organisation battles homelessness and fights to create safe spaces for women and children.

6. Challenge inequality and show your support

We all need to do our part. Not just on International Women’s Day, but every day. So if you witness inequality, try to address it. You can also publicly show your support for women’s rights on social media. If you feel like you don’t have enough information to have these conversations, that’s perfectly normal. If you want to learn more, there are thousands and thousands of books, documentaries or videos out there. Even something as simple as following a feminist social media account can provide you with bite-sized bits of information.

7. Include all genders

Gender inequality is not just a women’s issue. It affects all of us. That’s why it’s important that everyone is included in these conversations. So when you’re planning your International Women’s Day activities, invite and encourage your male and non-binary friends and colleagues to join. Make sure they feel welcome too.

8. Acknowledge the amazing women in your life

Show the women you admire how great they are. Just expressing your appreciation can inspire someone and make them feel valued. So pick up the phone and call or text your friend or family member.

Sources

https://www.unwomen.org/en

Keep up to date with COVID 19 information on the following links: 

Australian Government Department of Health 

Victorian Health and Human Services 

NSW Health 

Queensland Health 

ACT Health 

WA Department of Health 

Tasmanian Department of Health 

Northern Territory Department of Health 

SA Health 

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care, and assistance to seniors (elderly and aged care), and any adult who needs our care at home including adults living with a disability who want to continue to live independently or age in their home. Right at Home is your local expert for issues related to caring for your loved ones and is dedicated to keeping you informed about home care. With no admin or subscription fees Right at Home allows you to get more care from your package or budget. 

Right at Home is a 'My Aged Care' government approved, home care provider for levels 1 – 4 and offers flexible in-home care services such as nursing care, after hospital care, post-operative care, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer's care. Right at Home also offers assistance with daily living and personal care such as grooming, hygiene, transport, shopping, meal prep, domestic services and social support, so your loved one can enjoy a more independent, vibrant life. Our nurses and caregivers are screened, highly trained, and insured prior to entering your home so you can trust us with the caregiving while you focus on your loved one. 

To find out more, please give us a call on 1300 363 802 or visit our website. 

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