Latest News

 

ALP announces plan to get more women on boards
Thu, 29/07/2010

Promoting the leadership of women on boards is a priority issue for YWCA Australia in this federal election. In a speech today to the Women, Management and Work Conference, Minister Tanya Plibersek announced that a re-elected Gillard Labor Government would:

  • adopt a target for Australian Government boards of at least 40 per cent women, 40 per cent men and 20% unallocated (i.e. either men or women), to be achieved within five years. 
  • provide, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, scholarships for at least 70 women to undertake Australian Institute of Company Directors courses that will set them up to join private sector boards.

While these commitments are welcome, it is disappointing that the Australian Government target of 40% women applies when looking at the total number of women and men across all Australian Government boards – it is not a target for women’ representation on individual government boards. This means that the measure may actually have little impact on boosting the number of women on Australian Government boards, particularly on more prominent boards.

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Australian Greens' response to YWCA election priority questions
Mon, 26/07/2010

We have written to federal politicians asking them how they would address our election priorities for the 2010 federal election if elected. The Australian Greens have provided us with their written response to our election priority questions.

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Meet the candidates event
Mon, 26/07/2010

What issues are important to you? Meet candidates for the 2010 federal election - Canberra event. YWCA Australia and the YWCA of Canberra invite you to hear what women candidates standing in the ACT (and their parties) will do about issues that are important to women and girls, their families and communities. You will then have the opportunity to participate in 'speed campaigning' sessions, meeting in small groups with candidates to ask the questions that are important to you. The event will be held at The Lobby restaurant, Parkes, ACT on Thursday 12 August 2010, from 5:30pm-7pm.

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Make your vote count
Sat, 24/07/2010

The YWCA has launched a national campaign that encourages young women, their peers and families to get informed and ensure that their vote will count when it is cast in the 2010 federal election. As part of the campaign, the YWCA has produced postcards to encourage young women, their peers and families to identify the issues that they care about and ensure that they find out how the major parties will respond to these issues. YWCA Australia and the YWCA of Canberra will also be holding a 'meet the candidates event' in Canberra on 12 August 2010.

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NGOs influence review of women's human rights at UN
Thu, 22/07/2010

The Australian Government has presented their report in to the implementation of CEDAW at the UN. Committee members praised the Government for the gains made while exploring how women's human rights can be improved in Australia.

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