The march goes on

ON International Women’s Day, the Australian Government releases a report card on the status of women in Australia.

The first report card in 2023 ranked us internationally at a lowly 43rd for gender equality. In 2024, we rose to 26th.

It seems odd to be so far down the rankings when Australia has the fourth highest level of tertiary educated women in the OECD. This accomplishment should be shining brightly in our workplaces in the form of equal pay, leadership and respectful attitudes. So why the mismatch?

Good, bad or otherwise, perhaps you can you see yourself in the statistics:

* 64 per cent of women hold a qualification outside school

* 35.7 per cent hold a bachelor degree or above

* 41.6 per cent of small businesses are owned by women

* Two in five managers are women (40.2 per cent)

* 13.8 per cent of all managers work part-time and 59.5 per cent of those are women (mostly due to child caring responsibilities)

* Only 9 per cent of CEOs in the ASX300 are women and 18 per cent of CEO pipeline roles in the ASX300 are held by women

* 18 per cent of total start-up capital was invested in start-ups with at least one woman founder in 2023

* The gender wage gap has shrunk but is still at 12 per cent with women still earning lower pay, fewer bonuses and retiring with less super, and

* In the private sector, the median gender pay gap is 19 per cent or $18,461 per year, when comparing full-time equivalent total pay (super, bonuses, overtime).

Despite some improvement, we know the gaps are still fuelled by outdated, inflexible work practices clashing with the childcare load, which continues to be shouldered by women more often than men.

Women’s ambition, leadership and qualifications are also – still – running into a wall of gender prejudice.

The report card tells us “one in three (34.8 per cent) Australians hold a negative bias about women’s ability to participate fully economically, politically or in education”. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?

Astonishingly, attitudes towards gender equality are not more progressive in younger Australians, especially young men (16 – 24); their “rejection of gender inequality is the same as the average Australian.”

A small comfort is that these are last year’s figures. Let’s hope for a miraculous shift in 2025 that sees us zooming up the equality charts.

Our regional economy is brimming with bright, skilled, ambitious women making their way. More strength to you.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #March Forward and it’s a good one.

It’s not a one-day march, it’s a lifelong march. Bring others with you and do not stop.

No matter what the stats say, no matter what absurd attitudes come out of the rotting woodwork, march forward, march faster and march confidently for the change you deserve.

Giulia Baggio

Chief executive officer, G21 Geelong Region Alliance