Young women across Australia are demanding a focus on women’s policy issues during this federal election campaign, according to the country’s largest national feminist organisation – YWCA Australia.
“This federal election, the most important issue to me is that young women are heard during the election process and adequately represented afterwards at all levels,” says Georgina Morphett, member of YWCA Australia’s Young Women’s Council.
Ms Morphett joins other young women this week at #SHEvotes in Adelaide, YWCA Australia’s premier election forum focusing on the impact of policy on women.
“We’re often not represented in senior leadership positions or other positions of power. Housing affordability, women’s safety and access to women’s healthcare are serious ongoing concerns, as well as equitable pay,” says Ms Morphett.
Millennials are now Australia’s largest voting cohort – growing by 30,000 every year. The issues that concern young women could be the issues that decide the upcoming federal election.
YWCA Australia’s 2019 Election Platform will be released as part of #SHEvotes along with a social media video series highlight the election issues that matter to young women.
“This election, we’re calling for urgent funding to support women’s housing and investment in programs relating to primary prevention of gender-based violence,” says CEO Michelle Phillips.
“Access to safe, affordable and appropriate housing is a feminist issue. Family violence, part-time and casual employment, and family care duties often leave women, especially older women, at an economic disadvantage and at risk of homelessness.”
“Similarly, women need to feel safe in the world they live in. Violence against women is a social issue, one that needs to be addressed with primary prevention programs that change the structures, norms and practices that drive gender-based violence,” says Ms Phillips.
These are among the many issues that Ms Morphett expects will be brought up by young women like herself at the #SHEvotes event on Wednesday in Adelaide.
“As a group, we’re passionate about influencing the world that we live in. We want affordable housing, education and healthcare, representation at the highest levels of government, and, mostly importantly, to feel safe.”
Media Release: Wednesday 8 May 2019
About #SHEvotes
Hosted by YWCA Australia, #SHEvotes is an election forum focusing on the impact of policy on women. #SHEvotes holds a Q&A panel, and then a ‘speed-dating’ session where attendees get to meet and question candidates.
#SHEvotes will be held on Wednesday 8 May 2019 at Sparkke at the Whitmore | 317 Morphett Street in Adelaide. Guests include Senator Jenny McAllister (Australian Labor Party), Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (Australian Greens), and representatives from Centre Alliance and Animal Justice Party. There are currently no representatives from the Liberal Party of Australia.
About YWCA Australia
YWCA Australia is a feminist organisation focused on improving gender equality for women, young women and girls.
Together we challenge the systems, structures and policies that act as barriers to women, especially young women, achieving their full potential. Our evidence-based programs and services, delivered across the country, aim to be inclusive of all women and offer support with housing, homelessness, leadership, safety and wellbeing.
Our goal is to positively impact the lives of more than two million women, young women and girls by the end of 2023.
Contact
Renee Hancock, 0417 055 299 or renee.hancock@ywca.org.au
Amanda Chan, 0433 843 643 or amanda.chan@ywca.org.au
