Meet our members

YWCA members come from all walks of life. While they may have different backgrounds, they have one thing in common. They are passionate about supporting women, young women and girls. Meet just a few of our members below!

Cecilia Ng

“YWCA’s dedication to providing medium to long-term affordable housing to at-risk women and their families as well as their homelessness and domestic violence services is work that I admire and want to be part of.”

“The fact that they have such an inclusive culture, actively advertised for young women from diverse backgrounds, and interviewed through an intersectional lens was very appealing. They recognise that feminism is diverse and affected by people’s different lived experiences.”

As one of two trainees accepted into YWCA Australia’s 2020 Board Traineeship program, Cecilia will be partnered with a current board member, sit in on YWCA board and committee meetings as an observer, and undertake the Australian Institute of Company Director’s Foundations of Directorship course.

Tash Baxter

What’s YWCA member Tash Baxter’s proudest girl power moment?

The #metoo movement is the most persuasive ‘girl power’ moment that comes to mind – the most persuasive girl power movement in history. It was so inspiring to see women from all over the world standing up against the cultural norms that have oppressed or silenced them, calling out inequality, behaviour, and banding together towards a united cause.

Who is your favourite feminist / gender equality ambassador?

Rosie Batty’s enduring strength in the face of adversity, and her commitment to placing pressure on government bodies to address domestic violence. Her determination to help women overcome family violence, has been instrumental in changing how society views and supports domestic violence.

Janet Whitham

YWCA Life Member Janet Whitham began her journey with the YWCA in Adelaide when she was just 19 years old and has since borne witness to almost 60 years of the organisation’s growth and change.

Janet started out as a Voluntary Leader for the YWCA’s Reserve Girl Citizens in South Australia which taught young women to take on social responsibility through activities like sewing and physical exercise.

Janet served as a Program Director / Youth Worker with the Adelaide YWCA, and as the National Youth Field Officer with National YWCA. Her membership with the YWCA took her all over the world, volunteering and working with YWCA’s in London, Geneva and the United States for three years in the 1960s.

Casey Burchell

Casey completed two degrees in politics and gender studies and has spent much of her adult life working or volunteering within the women’s sector, campaigning against gender-based violence and supporting sexual and reproductive health.

“I’m particularly interested in the way that young women can be lifted up by the generations of women who have come before them, and how we can pass on a legacy of opening the door and paving the way for other women.”

Casey has been a mentor with YWCA Australia’s Asista program since February 2017, mentoring a teenage girl who’s been through the child protection system.