The YWCA Australia’s advocacy program is based in the experiences of our members and the over a quarter of a million people each year who use our services in communities across Australia, whether it is a housing program, women’s leadership program, Encore (the after breast cancer exercise program), childcare, after school hours care or school holiday program, employment and training, or a health and well-being program.
In 2006 we adopted a new Policy Platform which will guide our work. In 2007-2009 we will focus on four priority policy areas:
- Housing for women
- Economic security for women
- Women’s health
- Violence against women
Housing for women
Women are the hidden face of the housing crisis in Australia. For information on steps the YWCA thinks we can take to end the housing crisis for women please download our fact sheet. We have also prepared a submission in response to the Homelessness Green Paper.
Economic Security for women
It's time for paid parental leave - read our submission to the Productivity Commission. It's time to end the gender pay gap. YWCA is contributing to a submission on the gender pay gap.
Women's health
YWCAs around the country celebrated No Diet Day! In Melbourne and Adelaide Ys held amazing public events to celebrate healthy body image, what we love about ourselves, and the idea that we all enjoy a little cake every now and then!
Violence against women
The government is getting ready to adopt an action plan to end violence against women. YWCAs from around the country put together a submission on what could be done in the plan.
Women's rights are human rights
While we've come a long way baby, there's some more to go. And the laws in Australia that ensure women's equality have a long way to go too. YWCA Australia has facilitated a group of leading women's organisations and equality experts to prepare a submission on changes to the Sex Discrimination Act.
YWCA Australia welcomes moves by the government to ratify the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, a mechanism to enable women to lodge complaints of human rights violations with the UN. Read our letter of support.
YWCA Prepared Submissions
2005 House of Representatives Inquiry on Balancing Work and Family
2003 Submission on the Definitions of Charities
2003 Inquiry into higher education funding and regulatory legislation
2002 HREOC Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
2002 Valuing Parenthood Options for Paid Maternity Leave:Interim Paper
2001 Submission to OSW for CSW Women’s Economic Security discussion
YWCA Endorsed Submissions
Response to the Inquiry into Child Custody Arrangements in the Event of Family Separation (prepared by Eva Cox)
What Women Want project on welfare and industrial relations changes
CEDAW Shadow Report
Co-Submissions
Information submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade re: preparation of the Periodic Reports on implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (prepared with the Women’s Rights Action Network Australia)