City prepares for International Women’s Day

BENDIGO’S Chamber of Commerce, Be.Bendigo, is asking local businesses and people to get around International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March. 

Be.Bendigo is supporting organisations such as Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, Zonta Club of Bendigo, and Women of Gold in their initiatives to improve gender equality outcomes.  

Chief executive officer of Be.Bendigo, Rob Herbert, said International Women’s Day, or IWD is an opportunity to applaud the contributions of local women across their communities. 

“Importantly though, it is also a time for us all to focus on the significant work that remains to be done to improve gender equality and support economic empowerment,” he said.  

“The way that many businesses adapted to increased flexibility around working from home and with rosters that supported carer obligations, provided some innovative opportunities for increasing workforce participation. 

However, Mr Herbert said there are still barriers to women’s empowerment such as in industries where a “physical presence” at work is favourable and unpaid work such as caring presents restrictions.  

“Building confidence and optimism is important, but building economic empowerment and participation also means we must attend to the structural issues that have kept many women out of the paid workforce for too long,” he said. 

Events in Bendigo so far planned for International Women’s Day include the International Women’s Day 2024 Zonta Dinner at 6pm on Tuesday 5 March at All Seasons Resort, the Women’s Health Loddon Mallee Breakfast from 8am to 10am on Friday 8 March, and Women of Gold’s Multimedia Public Art Project Launch at 11am also that day. 

Tricia Currie, chief executive officer of Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, said the theme of her organisation’s breakfast is Count Her In and will aim to highlight ways people can help improve gender equality through economic empowerment, and feature guest speakers, entertainment, networking opportunities.