Ynews second edition 2017

YNEWS SECOND EDITION 2017

THIS ISSUE Executive Director’s report..............................2 President’s report..............................................3 Advocacy: Executive Director Frances Crimmins on the ACT Budget...........4 Advocacy: Y-Action and the year so far........5 Conclusions from the 61st Commission on the Status of Women....................................6 Children’s Services: Demonstrating the impact of Early Childhood Education and Care............................................8 Training Unit: Staff profile - Ellouise Boel............................. 12

Community Services: How big your brave is - escaping family violence to homelessness............................................... 13 She Leads: Challenging the status quo on women’s leadership at the 2017 She Leads Conference........................... 14 The continuing fight for equal rights with Dr Anne Summers AO at the She Leads In-Conversation event..................................... 16 Partnerships that make a difference: Capital Chemist.................................................17 Dates for your diary......................................... 18 Mindful Colouring.............................................. 19

WELCOME TO YNEWS SECOND EDITION 2017 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Dear members, partners, supporters and friends, What an exciting, productive, and event-filled quarter it’s been! It’s hard to believe we’re nearly halfway through another year.

Back in April, we welcomed more than 170 guests to QT Canberra for our Great Ydeas Innovation Breakfast (formerly known as the Round the World Breakfast), in recognition of World YWCA Day. The event saw some great outcomes for the YWCA Canberra Clubhouse, with more than $3,200 raised in donations, as well as software and equipment donations, and offers to participate in the mentoring program.

such diverse backgrounds and industries. I look forward to continuing to offer this professional, unique and inclusive event for women across all sectors, age groups and backgrounds in years to come.

You can read more about these tremendous events within, or on the YWCA Canberra blog.

I hope everybody is keeping warm, and I look forward to the opportunity to connect with many of you at an event soon.

Kind regards, Frances Crimmins Executive Director | YWCA Canberra

At the event we also announced the recipients of this year’s Great Ydeas Small Grants Program, and featured a keynote from Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell. Kate reinforced the importance of providing opportunities for young people and addressing inequality, and spoke about the positive impact that business, innovation, and entrepreneurship can have on communities.

In May, I was thrilled to hear Dr Anne Summers AO in conversation with Dr Skye Saunders, discussing the barriers women continue to face in Australia to achieving equal rights, at our second She Leads InConversation event at the University of Canberra. Anne spoke about her career as a gender equality advocate, and outlined the four most important outcomes we still need to see for women all around the world; financial self-sufficiency, reproductive freedom, freedom from violence and equal representation. After a thought provoking conversation, Anne shared one final poignant piece of advice; “Being your own person is the single most important thing you can do.”

In June, we held our fourth annual She Leads Conference, bringing together more than 200 women for a day of skills building, stirring talks, new connections, and ultimately, progressing gender equality through women’s leadership. It was particularly valuable to hear from so many interesting and intelligent women from Acknowledgement of Country. YWCA Canberra acknowledges and pays respect to the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to own and control their cultures.

YWCA Canberra recognises the need to respect and encourage the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, worldviews, lifestyles and customary laws.

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YNEWS. YWCA CANBERRA. SECOND EDITION 2017

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Hello everyone, It’s been an action packed couple of months here at the Y. We held the hugely successful 2017 Great Ydeas Grants Program, the She Leads College Conference and also the She Leads Conference.

The 2017 Great Ydeas Program is now in its seventh year, and thanks to our many business and philanthropic partnerships, we had a record number of grants available, and $20,000 in funding.

Grants of up to $2,000 were made available in the categories of small business, community development, the arts, diversity and inclusion, social enterprise, and professional development.

Nine women and girls from around Canberra received small grants to pursue their goals and aspirations, and we look forward to hearing about their progress over the coming months.

This year the She Leads College Conference, for girls in Years 11 and 12 supported young women on their leadership journey through talks, workshops, and a speed networking event. And more recently, the She Leads Conference was a knock-out, with our now renowned focus on showcasing a diversity of speakers and thought leadership, with strong, fascinating women.

I’m so impressed with our fabulous staff team in creating these welcoming, inspiring and thoughtful events.

YWCA Canberra is blessed to have partnerships from a wide range of organisations; partnerships that make our events possible and provide opportunities for women that would otherwise be unable to attend.

In other news, we have been amazed to see the rapid progress of our newest early childhood service which is being constructed at the Fairley Estate, in Murrumbateman. We are delighted to say that we will be opening the service on 29 June, and we already have seen a strong show of interest from local families. It is so obvious that we’re meeting a clear need, and we are glad to offer 115 places available to children from six weeks to school age. We also plan to offer a full range of school age care programs, including a school holiday program, to families in the Yass and Murrumbateman region. We are currently recruiting for the service, so please spread the word among any passionate and qualified educators you know.

After the ACT Government announced its 2017- 2018 budget, we are pleased to see a continued commitment to addressing domestic violence with sustained funding for the Safer Families program. However, it was also disheartening to see no funding has been committed to the implementing the first year of the ACT Women’s Plan. We will continue to work to address these important issues and hold the government accountable to their commitments. You can read Frances’ full budget analysis in more detail in this edition.

And finally, in May, YWCA Member Associations around Australia voted to merge into one entity, and will soon commence working on a transition plan. Later in June, the YWCA Canberra Board will be meeting with representatives from Y Australia to determine the next steps in our relationship, given our departure from the merger. The communication so far has been positive and forward-leaning, and I expect that we will be able to find a mutually beneficial path forward.

I wish you all the best for the cooler months ahead, do enjoy those crisp blue days!

Best regards, Jude Burger President | YWCA Canberra

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ADVOCACY: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FRANCES CRIMMINS ON THE ACT BUDGET Last week, the ACT Government handed down the 2017-2018 budget, and we have undertaken an analysis of what the implications are for local women, girls, and heir families.

If you read the headlines, it’s clear what the Government has prioritised this year. It’s the tale of the ACT’s growing population, with an urgent need to meet growing demands by investing in transport, infrastructure, education and health. However, the question remains if this investment focus comes at the expense of the vulnerable people in Canberra, and if this budget will alleviate or compound growing social and economic inequality in the ACT? This year’s budget has been broadly guided by the Parliamentary Agreement – a document of commitments that paved the way for the ACT Greens and ACT Labour to form Government. While we applaud the Government’s steadfast approach to delivering on its promises, we are concerned that this has been to the detriment of other commitments and strategies, notably the Women’s Plan, which has not received a single dollar of funding in its first year.

As the former Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Women, I played a key role in the development of the Women’s Plan (2016-2021). The Plan was intended to be a guiding framework for a whole-of-government approach to addressing key issues impacting women and girls in the Territory. The Plan delegates responsibilities to each ACT Government directorate, allowing them to achieve their own gender equality outcomes, and to apply a gendered analysis to understand how all policies and programmes impact women.

However, the ACT Government’s total disregard for adequately resourcing the Office for Women and the implementation of this plan, leaves the future of Canberra women and girls hanging on lip service, and a tick box exercise. YWCA Canberra’s Pre-Budget Consultation Submission called on the ACT Government to appropriately resource the Office for Women, and for the Chief Minister’s department to drive this agenda across Government departments.

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The ACT Government reaffirmed its commitment to addressing domestic violence by continuing funding for the Safer Families Package, with the announcement that the Family Safety Hub will now link up existing family violence services to provide a more holistic and integrated response for women experiencing violence.

This is a necessary initiative that will benefit women, allowing them to access required services in a complex system.

However, these measures must be complimented with investment in primary and secondary prevention strategies to tackle the root causes of domestic violence. YWCA Canberra’s firm stance on investing in primary and secondary prevention initiatives is backed by international evidence, demonstrating that violence is preventable, which is crucial to the long-term goal of achieving gender equality.

There is emerging evidence that education of young people and children is crucial to ending the cycle of violence. It is therefore alarming to see that the funding for Respectful Relationships curriculum has now ceased, just when other States across Australia are increasing their investments in primary prevention education in schools. For example, last year the Victorian Government invested $21.8 million dollars of funding to roll out the Respectful Relationships curriculum.

The ACT Government’s commitment to tackling bullying, particularly experienced by LGBTQI students, is evident in their sustained funding to the Safer Schools package.

However, a holistic curriculum needs to explicitly recognize and address inequality, gender and power and how they are linked to gender based violence.

Comprehensive curriculums such as Respectful Relationships have been proven to promote more egalitarian relationships, which are characterised by shared decision-making and reduced violence.

To achieve these longer-term outcomes beyond the playground, the ACT Government must commit to implementing a holistic curriculum that is part of a broader strategy in preventing violence.

YNEWS. YWCA CANBERRA. SECOND EDITION 2017

YWCA Canberra is calling on the ACT Government to proactively include women in the future of this city, and to ensure they are equal contributors and beneficiaries to Canberra’s growth and expansion. Gender equality cannot wait - future budgets will continue to fail women until a regulatory approach is taken where all decisions are considered through a gendered lens.

We will continue to work hard to hold the ACT Government accountable to the commitments it has made to women, and we will work closely with the Office for Women to demonstrate solutions and opportunities for the ACT to lead Australia in achieving gender equality.

ADVOCACY: Y-ACTION AND THE YEAR SO FAR has not yet seen an adequate public policy response.

Advocacy is core to YWCA Canberra’s vision where women are actively shaping our communities. We recognise that in order for the ACT to be the leading jurisdiction on gender equality, strong political leadership is needed to ensure gender is a key consideration in policy and decision-making across government. This is the long term goal of YWCA Canberra, and we think we are uniquely positioned to advocate for this change, having represented women’s issues in Canberra since 1929

In the lead up to this year’s ACT budget announcements, YWCA Canberra and ACTCOSS collaborated to write a situational analysis. This paper highlighted the scale of the problem in the ACT, and called for immediate action and investment in innovative housing models, including affordable and safe options for older women. We note that the ACT Budget featured a financial commitment to hold a housing summit to explore possible solutions later in the year, and we will be working hard to ensure that there is genuine consultation with older women through this process.

2017 marks a significant strengthening and scaling up of our engagement with decision-makers. On International Women’s Day, we officially launched our new policy Contributing our voice to women’s struggles globally is priorities by holding a morning tea with all women MLAs, part of our membership strategy, and connection with and leaders across sectors. We also met with MLA’s YWCA Australia and World YWCA. As the gains made across the political spectrum to paint a picture of our by women’s rights are increasingly threatened, YWCA vision of a more inclusive, Canberra members stood in equitable Canberra. We solidarity when they joined provided MLA’s with some thousands of Canberrans for immediate and tangible steps the global Women’s March. that could be taken in this Executive Director Frances Parliament, and we were Crimmins reminded the crowd heartened by the crossthat more must to be done to partisan commitment to POLICY address the gender inequality BRIEFING NOTE 4 INVESTIN G IN OU gender equality.

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Simultaneously, the future world of work will undoubtedly be automated and digitised. The discontinuation of the nationally funded youth connections service has left a major gap in the ACT for assisting vulnerable young people to reengage with training, education or employment.

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YWCA’s Clubhouse is trying to address this digital divide by providing access to children to build skills and confidence in STEAM. We therefore invited MLA’s including the Minister for Disability, Children and Youth, Rachel Stephen-Smith earlier this month to visit the program and see first-hand the impact the Clubhouse has on the lives of young people in the Tuggeranong region.

Another key priority over the next two years is to address the housing affordability crisis here in the ACT that is having a disproportionate impact on older women. This is an issue that YWCA Canberra has worked on in collaboration with other community organisations, and despite an emerging body of evidence, this crisis

that many Canberra women continue to face.

Most recently, a delegation of YWCA Canberra members joined 2800 women at the 61st session of Commission of the Status of Women to participate in identifying global priorities for gender equality. Upon their return, delegates presented back to our members, staff and supporters about the actions we can take in our own community.

YWCA Canberra has a solid foundation from which to build on; with gender parity in ACT Legislative Assembly, and tripartisan support for gender equality, there is a unique window to bring about long term and sustainable change for all of women in Canberra. Critical to this change will be a groundswell of community support that reminds our decision makers of the commitments they have made, and the real life impact of their actions.

YWCA Canberra’s members and supporters are a formidable community, and in 2017 we will carve out even more space for members to contribute directly to our advocacy work.

You can sign up to our new online publication Y-Action to get the latest news on how we’re tackling gender inequality in the ACT and how you can add your voice here.

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CONCLUSIONS FROM THE 61ST COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN We recently welcomed home the YWCA Canberra delegation from the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), who now have a clear picture of what needs to happen here in Australia and in Canberra in order to progress towards achieving gender equality. We caught up with delegates Hannah Gissane, Sarah Burr, Alyssa Shaw and Caitlin Figueiredo to hear their insights into CSW61, and what it means for us here in Canberra.

This year’s priority theme of CSW was of particular relevance to our own contexts: Women’s economic empowerment in the Changing World of Work.

However, listening to the delegate’s feedback revealed just how broad in scope this theme is, and the diversity of experiences and issues as they relate to women around the world.

It’s important to remember that CSW61 took place against the backdrop of an erosion of women’s rights worldwide and a wave of nationalistic politics that is insular in nature and in direct opposition to the UN system and the principles of Human Rights that underpin it. Many women weren’t able to attend due to the Executive Order that banned a number of countries from entering the United States. The YWCA Canberra delegation were five of 2800 women who against these odds ensured women’s voices were heard.

The agreed conclusions are one of the major outcomes of the CSW process. The negotiations have been a source of consternation among women’s human rights defenders and progressive feminist activists and advocates working internationally for some time.

Hannah Gissane reminded us that for every activist present fighting hard for women’s rights, there are in equal numbers those delegates pushing for regressive measures. She talked us through those 102 paragraphs contained in the CSW61 Agreed Conclusions that took 107 hours to negotiate.

negative social norms as well as measures to enable women’s equal access to and participation in labour markets and in education and training.

This year’s emerging theme of CSW was the Empowerment of Indigenous Women. Delegate Sarah Burr spoke of the significance of the inclusion of text that recognises indigenous women that which calls on Governments to address the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and barriers they face. This was seen as the biggest advancement ever for language on Indigenous women and girls at CSW, and is testament to the incredible work of indigenous activists on the ground.

In addition to advocating the agreed conclusions, the delegates were unanimous in saying that perhaps the biggest outcome of CSW is bringing women together from across the world to build solidarity, connections in the spirit of a shared purpose and vision.

A particular highlight was the Youth Forum, which brought together nearly 1000 youth leaders and activists from around the world. Now in its second year, World YWCA was instrumental in convening this critical space for young people. The output was the Youth Declaration; Anchored in the voices, expertise, rightful opinions and experiences of young people, it underscores the importance of economically empowering young women and girls if we are to achieve SDG 5 in gender equality.

World YWCA also provided an Egumeni Safe Space where young women attending CSW61 could network with each other, meet and discuss key issues, or just relax. Attended by the Director of UN Women Natalia Kanem and Australia’s new Ambassador for women and girls, Sharman Stone.

We know that policies and budgets are never genderneutral and one of the key conclusion’s calls on the government’s around the world to adopt gender sensitive budgeting. This is a key way of ensuring that gender equality is not an afterthought, but forms part of the whole decision making process. The agreed conclusions quite rightly mentions the importance of resourcing this work, recognising that without sufficient finances, these statements will never translate to concrete change.

Eliminating occupational segregation was also identified as a universal priority and that reform needs to occur across the whole spectrum of barriers faced by women entering the workforce, from gender stereotypes and

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YNEWS. YWCA CANBERRA. SECOND EDITION 2017

Bringing CSW61 home Ultimately, the power of the Agreed Conclusions rests with how they can be used as an advocacy tool at home. The delegation brought home that the Australian Government has committed to these conclusions, and that they now have an obligation to deliver on these commitments. The team came up with a number of clear and tangible steps that the Government can take right now, that would immediately begin embed these Conclusions into our own policy frameworks: ACT and the Federal Government With gender parity in the Assembly and cross-partisan support for gender equality, YWCA Canberra believes that the ACT is perfectly primed to be the leader on Gender Equality.

• Policies and programs targeted at Indigenous women’s economic participation • Developing a Gender Equality Act including tangible quotas and targets.

• Reinstating the gender budget analysis to ensure that budgetary decisions contribute to gender equality • Introducing blind recruitment practices for ACT public service roles.

• Full, prior and informed consent in practice

enterprise and NGO’s • Introduce legislation for mandatory gender quotas of 50% on our government boards (with an emphasis on younger women).

Corporate partners The delegation reminded us that businesses have a powerful role to play in indigenous women and eroding pay segregation by: • Utilising Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) to best effects • Invest in Ngunnawal and Ngambri partnerships • Undertake gender pay audits to understand the health of your business • Introducing pathways into male-dominated fields and leadership opportunities • Introduce flexible working arrangements to encourage women to return to the workforce • Introduce equal pay policies Gender equality will also take a groundswell of women willing to lead this change. Tapping into the efforts of organisations leading the charge and supporting this critical work will be critical to ensuring that government deliver on their commitments.

You can read YWCA Canberra’s Policy Priorities here.

• Invest in young women led social

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CHILDREN’S SERVICES: DEMONSTRATING THE IMPACT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE YWCA Canberra has a proud history of providing high quality early childhood education across the Canberra community, now extending over the border to the beautiful town of Murrumbateman. While many within the community wouldn’t naturally correlate advocacy with ‘childcare’, our team of dedicated professionals work with children and families every day, to advocate for inclusive and effective early childhood education that meets the needs of individual children in our services.

YWCA Canberra’s vision, purpose, motivation and values all influence the decisions that are made within our services; from the curriculum that informs how we teach children, to the flexibility, structure, support and opportunities we offer each employee.

Research shows that the first five years of life impact a child’s future development, health, economic and educational participation, as well as life success.

Our team sees this as an opportunity to have a significant impact on the work YWCA Canberra does within the community, embedding the values of developing leadership, equality, advocacy, empowerment, diversity and reconciliation in to the day-to-day practices of every service.

Why are YWCA Canberra services different?

We know that the early years of a child’s life give us an opportunity to create change for our community.

We provide a workplace that is flexible, has many opportunities to grow your career, connects you to an international movement of women committed to equality, and makes a difference to children and their families every day.

Our services are at the forefront of innovative practice, using research in international early childhood development to inform practice.

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Our teams have annual strategic plans that directly link to our collective YWCA Canberra priorities and directions: Women, young women and girls are influencing, leading and deciding.

Women, young women and girls are leaders in our communities. All of our educators are provided with opportunities to develop their careers, leadership skills and be mentored by other professionals. Young children’s voices, rights and decisions are respected and reflected in our curriculum documentation.

Women are secure, independent and are participating economically.

YWCA Canberra early childhood services provide economic independence through job opportunities, security through consistent, flexible workplaces and additional benefits through our Enterprise Bargaining Agreement such as additional maternity leave and above award wages.

Women and their families have access to the conditions and resources they need to lead healthy lives.

YWCA Canberra early childhood services provide access to affordable childcare options to over 300 families, as well as providing numerous education opportunities for women to study children’s services through our registered training organisation.

Children and young people have the skills and attributes to create a better future.

Educators actively provide opportunities for children to learn practical applications of equality from birth.

Educators create communities that normalise equality for all genders, cultures and traditions. Children are supported to develop life skills and to actively participate in the community.

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Hear it from the team themselves!

“Working for an organisation that is committed to advocacy at a grass roots level and still manages to connect to an international movement for gender equality – that’s amazing. I’ve been given so many opportunities to learn how to create change in my community, in my sector and for myself. If you’re looking to ‘have an impact’, early education is a great place to start but YWCA Canberra supports me to take that opportunity to the next level” - Louise Billman, Early Childhood Services Manager “One of the values of YWCA Canberra that facilitates my connection to the service and the community, is supporting diversity in its workforce.

Working with my colleagues of different cultural background, makes me feel that everyone is welcome to make a contribution to a child’s future. Our different cultural backgrounds make us connect in a very special way.

I feel like we created a ‘little family’. - Teojan Visitcion, Early Childhood Services Educator

as now, there are so many more future goals in areas I never dreamed possible. I am grateful to the YWCA for opening these opportunities up to me.” -Lauren Smith, Director MAY NOT KNOW Winyu Early Childhood Service.

THINGS YOU ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE (CHILDCARE):

85% OF A CHILD’S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE IN THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF LIFE. THE SECTOR IS MADE UP OF 97% WOMEN NATIONALLY. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE VARIES FROM A TRAINEE THROUGH TO A DEGREE QUALIFIED TEACHER AT EVERY INDIVIDUAL SERVICE. IN AUSTRALIA, OVER 1 MILLION FAMILIES USE EDUCATION AND CARE (CHILDCARE) EVERY WEEK, TO ACCESS WORK, EDUCATION OR RESPITE. INVESTMENT IN EARLY YEARS PAYS BACK OVER TIME. STUDIES SHOW THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN EARLY EDUCATION, OUR ECONOMY RECEIVES BETWEEN $3 AND $7 RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

How do you normalise gender equality for children in your service?

“How we do this is quite a simple answer – we make it part of our practice, part of our curriculum and part of our being. From the moment, our educators step foot on the floor, they leave behind them, any pre-conceived notions of what is and is not expected of children because of age, gender, sex or culture.

Our educators get to know children for who they are and help them find ways to belong in our community. We do not set provocations intended for one gender or another. We do not buy resources intended for one gender or another. We do not set dress-ups intended for one gender or another.

We respect and acknowledge a child’s right to choose and we practice this in all our interactions with children.

We encourage and support AUSTRALIA SPENDS LESS THAN “When I first came to the YWCA, conversations, between children, only in September 2016, I was HALF OF THE OECD RECOMMENDED which challenge societal norms. fortunate enough to be a part BENCHMARK (WHICH IS 1%) ON EARLY For example, a common phrase of a pilot project in one of our CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. amongst children is “She can’t Early Childhood Services. I do that, she’s not strong enough, was initially employed as a YWCA CANBERRA CURRENTLY only boys can do it”. We use Quality Support Leader for the EMPLOYEES OVER 70 INDIVIDUAL EARLY these statements as learning service and worked within a opportunities – spontaneous CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, Management Team comprising provocations where we can AT FOUR LOCATIONS. of Lead Educators, Pedagogista/ challenge the notions of what Educational Leader and Myself. boys and girls can and cannot Under the guidance of our Early Childhood Services do, in a conversation with and between children.

Manager, within 6 months, I developed further Leadership Gender equality is a way of being in practice which is skills and my confidence grew and I was, once again, supported through our interactions, our conversations, fortunate enough to take on the new role at this our provocations and our environments.” - Cherese service as the Director.

Morthorpe, Educational Leader at Winyu Early In any other organisation, the role of a Director may be Childhood Service. seen as the ultimate goal in their career however with the Y, there are so many further succession opportunities which I can be and am involved in. This is exciting for me,

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27 APRIL 2017 - QT CANBERRA

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TRAINING UNIT: STAFF PROFILE - ELLOUISE BOEL YWCA Canberra is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO National Number: 1373) that nurtures a culture of learning within the organisation and the broader community.

Our Training Unit offers a diverse range of accredited and non-accredited courses, which can be accessed through fee-forservice, work-based traineeships and funded jobseeker services. The key areas of training that we provide are in women’s leadership through the She Leads Diploma of Leadership and Management, training and assessment, early childhood education and care and business administration.

We caught up with our new Training Unit Manager, Ellouise Boel to get an insight into the team, and find out how providing education and training opportunities to the Canberra community fits in with YWCA Canberra’s broader strategic objectives.

Tell us about your role at YWCA Canberra As the Training Unit Manager, my role is to provide leadership and management to the Education and Training team. This includes ensuring we maintain compliance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations. I also provide advice and support to the team which includes guidance on student issues and reviewing training programs to ensure they meet the requirements of the training course and units within the course.

Why does YWCA Canberra offer the specific certificates and diplomas that we do?

YWCA Canberra offer a variety of courses including qualifications in early childhood education and care, business administration and leadership and management. These courses lead to students graduating with nationally recognised qualifications, which can often lead them to new jobs or further development within existing jobs.

YWCA Canberra offers these particular courses because they strongly align with our Strategic Directions, such as ensuring women are secure, independent and able to participate economically, as well as having opportunities to influence, lead and participate in decision making processes.

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What is the most popular accredited course that YWCA Canberra offers, and why?

Our most popular courses are in early childhood education and care. These include CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, with approximately 110 students currently enrolled.

Students enroll in these courses to gain the skills and knowledge required to either start their careers or further develop their career in the early childhood (ECEC) sector. At YWCA Canberra, we strongly believe in the value of quality ECEC within our community. We also believe that every child has the right to high quality early childhood experiences.

What are the community and career benefits someone can gain from attaining a new qualification?

By gaining a new qualification, people are able to use the skills and knowledge to enter the workforce or enhance their careers. This can lead to a flow on effect within the wider community, and see people with improved self-confidence empowered to take the next steps in their careers.

How do I enrol in a course?

To enrol in one of our courses, prospective students should read the course information on our website and then complete an enrolment form (also available on our website) and submit to the training unit.

How does increasing education opportunities through YWCA Canberra effect gender equality?

YWCA Canberra’s education opportunities can affect gender equality by providing individuals with improved self-confidence, skills and knowledge in their chosen area of education and a nationally recognised qualification that can be used to improve their careers.

What makes you proud to work at the Y? Working for an organisation that advocates for gender equality and supports women to enhance their capabilities is a major reason I like working for YWCA Canberra. I also enjoy working with a group of people who share similar personal values and beliefs.

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COMMUNITY SERVICES: HOW BIG YOUR BRAVE IS - ESCAPING FAMILY VIOLENCE TO HOMELESSNESS Canberra seems poised, positioned and ready to tackle domestic and family violence. Last year, the ACT government announced the Safer Families program worth $21.42 million dollars over four years, which to date has provided greater support to victims with enhanced frontline services and immediate financial support to those trying to escape family violence.

In 2017/2018, we can expect the launch of a Family Violence Hub, providing a one stop shop to those affected by violence to access the range of services they need.

However, as keen as we all are to address the issue and help victims, in reality the situation is not getting better quick enough. It is extremely hard for women to leave a dangerous situation and even with the best supports it’s dangerous, exhausting, demoralizing and frustrating. All women who take the step to leave a violent partner or family member are incredibly brave.

Finding a safe place to go to in Canberra is one of the most difficult parts of the journey. The average cost of a one bedroom rental apartment outside of a city centre is $708.23 per fortnight while the payment for a single person on Newstart unemployment allowance is $535.60 per fortnight. A person over 65 or on a disability pension is a little better off at $888.30 per fortnight, but it leaves little money to cover the cost of groceries, travel, utilities and medical bills.

Unfortunately, government housing support is not enough to help all women escaping family violence, the waiting list for priority housing (the most urgent housing category) with Housing ACT is an average of 346 days.

Even in the best circumstances, if the person escaping violence does work, it is difficult for them to source a rental, go to view properties, and produce references and rental history while living with someone who is controlling bank accounts and time spent away from the house.

Victims often find themselves highly monitored. There are many GPS phone tracking apps that can be put onto phones and tiny tracking devices can be easily bought online. Women are often not allowed to have their own vehicle, not allowed to learn to drive, not allowed to contact their family or friends, and documents such as passports and birth certificates held ransom.

Women who have their identity withheld from them can’t apply for a rental property, for a driver’s license or their own bank account. A real-life example of how

this loss of identity can frustrate someone leaving abuse, is a woman who left her partner but the vehicle she drove was not registered in her name. The vehicle was reported as stolen and returned to her ex-partner leaving her without even her car to sleep in.

Isolation is a common theme of abuse against women.

Removing women from their family supports makes seeking a safe place to stay almost impossible.

Increasingly, YWCA Canberra’s Housing Support Unit is supporting women from other countries marrying Australian citizens for what they imagine will be a better life. When they come to Australia they have no family, they discover their partners may be unemployed, have unsuitable living conditions, and debts. They are not able to speak English, and are unable to read or know who to ask for help.

The YWCA Canberra Housing Support Unit helps women escape domestic and family violence through our outreach service, crisis accommodation, and affordable shared housing for older women.

Our shared housing for women over 45 is affordable, with large rooms with ensuites, costing less than $400 a fortnight which includes the cost of utilities.

Our properties are full and we are constantly getting enquiries around availability.

Women living in the houses have let us know they feel safe and enjoy being with other women. The model has proven popular and successful, with women making lasting friendships. Some women have moved on to their own home or transitioned to Housing ACT properties.

Many of the women under 65 in the share houses have started working again, while the women over 65 enjoy having the comfort of having others around them.

Looking forward, YWCA Canberra Housing Support Unit plan on expanding our affordable housing model, to be able to provide housing for single women of any age as well as mothers with young children who are escaping family and domestic violence.

We are ready to help the brave.

YWCA Canberra will continue to work with leaders across all sectors to ensure greater availability of affordable housing stock in Canberra. A commitment to providing affordable and appropriate housing for all Canberrans is vital.

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SHE LEADS: CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO ON WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AT THE 2017 SHE LEADS CONFERENCE The 2017 She Leads Conference, held on 1 June at QT Canberra, brought women from a range of sectors and at all stages of their leadership journeys, together with some of Australia’s most inspiring women leaders.

This year’s program explored the theme ‘Challenge’ – focusing on stories of overcoming personal and professional challenges and experiences from women leaders who are transforming their workplaces, industries and communities.

Guests were welcomed with an authentic and inspiring Welcome to Country from Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Jannette Phillips, whose welcome was peppered with sage advice such as “look after your teeth… and moisturise,” as well as telling us “to take what we learn here and walk it!” And “to take away something from this conference, even if it is just a word.” It was an inspiring start to the day.

YWCA Canberra President, Jude Burger followed on from Aunty Jannette, setting the stage by reaffirming that the day was an opportunity to explore the ways that women are still experiencing in-equality and the chance to start workshopping a toolkit for change.

succeed.” By the end of her talk it was clear that her passion and dedication in advocating for the human rights of deaf people, raising awareness about Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and the right of deaf children in Australia to access Auslan from birth, is what drives her to challenge people because “we all have the power to create positive change… and help remove unnecessary barriers.”

Next up was the fierce and fabulous Michelle Deshong.

Michelle’s warm but powerful presentation spoke about how creating meaningful change means breaking down the things that oppress us. She reminded us that “history is full of challenges. When people accept the challenge great things can happen. Let’s reflect on those instead.”

We were then lucky enough to hear the amazing Caterina Giorgi in discussion with three inspiring change-makers, Shen Narayanasamy, Elise Burgess and Christine Castley, who are all engaged in challenging the system and creating change. The take-away from this inspiring session was that the key to affecting change and having maximum impact is by having a constantly questioned and adjusted strategy.

The morning kicked off with a poetry recital from the wickedly funny journalist and business woman Tracey Spicer, who also led us through the day as our MC. Tracey, who is renowned for the courage of her convictions, passion for social justice and commitment to equality, read the still relevant poem originally published in 1975 ‘Because we’re women’ by Joyce Stevens, reminding us all “how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.”

Our first speaker, Drisana Levitzke-Gray told us to “never underestimate the power of passion” and spoke about how “as an advocate [her] biggest focus is ensuring that everybody has access to language and break the misconception that you have to hear to

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Nakkiah encouraged us to be active in sharing stories from Aboriginal women and support Aboriginal voices because knowing that people have your back makes you braver. She also said to challenge media biases by consuming Aboriginal media to “make the networks challenge their ideas about who their audience is.”

We hope that everyone left the conference with new connections and a renewed sense of what they want to achieve in their leadership journey, as well as pointers on how to get there, and in the words of the fabulous Clementine Ford, we “look forward to seeing you next year at She Annihilates!”

A clear highlight of the day was being challenged by Clementine Ford, who asked us “what does it mean to be a proud feminist in today’s society?” Clementine encouraged us all to speak up without fear, “women have a lot to fear already, they shouldn’t have to fear their own voices.” And said for her a proud feminist is about being “uncompromising, fearless and relentless” “a bulldozer” and a “wrecking ball” and not having to smile sweetly because it makes men more comfortable.

Next up was a lively and engaging discussion about the challenge of changing gears with Alex Sloan, Myfawny Galloway, Captain Stephanie Steel and Summer Edwards.

The panel discussed the choices and sacrifices that women have to make in their careers, particularly when it comes to having, starting or raising a family. Summer Edwards said that we can use gratitude, grit, and connection to help us get through difficult times.

Ending the day was the hilarious, warm and powerful words from Nakkiah Lui, who told us that in addition to our identities we have an authentic voice and the greatest form of activism is to use our authentic voice, so “what does your authentic voice have to say?” She challenged us “as women [we need] to examine our biases because we all have them.”

Thank you to our valued partners who made the event possible: • Principal partner: Defence Force Recruiting • She Leads Champion: Hays Recruiting Experts Worldwide • Online Partner: Women’s Agenda • Scholarship partners: Westpac and National Council of Women • Healthy Snack Partner: Thankyou

As well as our esteemed She Leads Friends: • Capital Chemist • The National Australia Day Council • CBR Innovation Network Visit Flickr to see photos from the day, and be sure to follow She Leads on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more on women’s leadership.

Want more information on upcoming She Leads events?

Make sure you subscribe to our Enews, and don’t forget to join as a member to receive discounts on future events and other opportunities.

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THE CONTINUING FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS WITH DR ANNE SUMMERS AO AT THE SHE LEADS IN-CONVERSATION EVENT Our She Leads In-Conversation events provide Canberrans with the opportunity to hear from women leaders from different backgrounds and industries, in a conversational format, followed by a live Q&A session, book signing, and networking.

On Wednesday 10 May, we featured Dr Anne Summers AO In-Conversation with Dr Skye Saunders, discussing the barriers women continue to face in Australia to achieving equal rights.

Dr Summers is a best-selling author, journalist and thought-leader with a long career in politics, the media, business and the non-government sector in Australia, Europe and the United States. She has been an outspoken champion of equality for women since the 1970s, and has published several books, including the acclaimed Damned Whores and God’s Police.

Executive Director Frances Crimmins opened the event with an acknowledgment of country, and discussed the continuing need to increase the number of women in leadership roles. Frances stated that “the social and economic case for gender equality is clear – women make up one half of the population and deserve equal access to health, education, economic participation, and decision-making power.”

Next, Adjunct Professor and Academic Fellow Carmel MacGregor, discussed the work the University of Canberra is undertaking through their 50/50 by 2030 Foundation. The Foundation is a new gender equality initiative aiming to have women and men equally represented in leadership positions in government and public administration sectors by 2030.

Dr Summers was welcomed by excited attendees of all ages and genders.

She began the conversation by highlighting the lessons learnt from her illustrious career, and stated the best and most important piece of advice she has is to “work hard, be bold, and have fun.”

Dr Summers discussed the process of creating Elsie, Australia’s first women’s refuge, and stated that in the early 1970s there were no refuges, only women’s shelters. The shelters provided nightly accommodation, but banned traumatised women and their children from residing in the shelter for the day, and provided no health or legal services. Dr Summers said that this dire situation motivated herself and her friends to create Elsie.

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The conversation then turned to domestic violence in Australia. Dr Summers stated that the instances of violence have increased, even though reporting has improved and women are less reluctant to seek assistance and discuss their experiences. To address the epidemic of domestic violence, she argued that Australian society needs to recognise women as equal and able contributors.

To achieve gender equality, Dr Summers suggested we look to the deceptively simple Women’s Manifesto, released in March this year. The Manifesto includes four principles that must be achieved, which cover all areas of life that hinder gender equality: financial self-sufficiency, reproductive freedom, freedom from violence, and the right to participate fully and equally in all areas of public life.

Dr Summers argues that while these four principles have many smaller attached goals, such as equal pay and equal respect, these goals are not only measurable and achievable, but they can be achieved by 2022.

One reason gender equality could be achievable in five years, she stated, is because many young women are now proudly declaring themselves feminists. Dr Summers believes this phenomenon has been largely spurred on by the humiliating and degrading treatment of the former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and the debasing and violent language thrown at women in the public eye, such as Yassmin Abdel-Magied and Clementine Ford.

The conversation concluded with Dr Summers offering young women a final piece of advice. She said that the best thing women can do is it to pick a career path that celebrates their passions, and to do it regardless of what others think. Being your own person, she said, is the single most important thing you can do.

To close the session, Dr Saunders thanked Dr Summers for the stirring discussion, and invited attendees to have their books personally signed. Attendees then went on to network with one another over drinks and canapes.

We hope that attendees left the event feeling invigorated to tackle gender equality, prompted by Dr Anne Summer’s charged discussion.

You can find photos from the event on Flickr.

The next She Leads In-Conversation is happening on Wednesday 16 August. To receive updates about this upcoming In-Conversation, and future She Leads events, follow us on facebook and twitter, and subscribe to our She Leads Newsletter.

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PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE: CAPITAL CHEMIST At YWCA Canberra, we are fortunate to have built strong partnerships with organisations that support gender equality and women’s leadership. Capital Chemist are a partner for the She Leads Conference 2017. We had a chat to Stacey Fuller, Managing Partner of Capital Chemist Southlands, about her leadership journey through Capital Chemist, the opportunities it has afforded her, and what advice she has to offer to young women.

What drove you to become a pharmacist?

My first job as a 15-year-old was in my local community pharmacy. At the time, I thought it would just be a means to that extra bit of pocket money.

Before I knew it, I was working more hours and really enjoying my role as a pharmacy assistant. It gave me the much-needed confidence a teenager struggles to find, and the ability to think on my feet and ask questions that needed to be asked both of the customers and my colleagues.

My thoughts of becoming a pharmacist were confirmed when I realised I could make a difference in people’s lives, through education and involvement in their health. I have worked in both hospital and community pharmacies, but have really found my place in community pharmacy ownership.

What has your leadership journey been like, and where do you hope it will lead?

Relatively new to leadership, my journey has been busy, exciting, full of hard work and long hours, but most of all rewarding.

I am hoping that with the commitment and dedication myself and business partner Louise bring to our business, and the hard work of our staff, we can grow Capital Chemist Southlands to new heights in healthcare and relationships with our customers and other health professionals.

How does Capital Chemist support women’s leadership, and why is this important?

Capital Chemist has policies that support anyone willing to have a go – with no discrimination based on gender, age, background. For this reason, our ownership group reflects an industry mix with plenty of women and young people in leadership roles.

Capital Chemist also has an attitude that supports families as well as helping us to develop strong careers. A family or the potential of a family has been no disincentive either before or after commencing ownership. This has evolved from the very beginning of Capital Chemist, an attitude which has always been sharing and generous, and a vibe whereby what is good for all is good for one.

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What challenges do you face as a Managing Partner for Capital Chemist Southlands?

The greatest challenge for us in the future for the pharmacy is staying one step ahead of the curve. The pharmacy industry is constantly changing and evolving. Added to these challenges is the firm commitment of myself and Louise to continually expanding and improving what our professional services offer, regardless of any hurdles we may face.

We have to achieve this while continuing to grow and develop to meet the changing expectations of our customers. Pharmacists expanding their professional role are gaining acceptance within the broader community. Our service delivery will need to be continually reviewed and improved, particularly as our pharmacists’ role in primary healthcare increases.

What defines your leadership style?

I am still yet to fully understand and find my leadership style, I am growing as a leader and learning something new every day. There are many influential figures in Capital Chemist with whom my evolving leadership style is growing.

However, my leadership style definitely involves team work. I try to involve my staff as much as possible to help me make decisions for our pharmacy. I don’t want to be the leader who tells her staff what and how to do a job. Instead, I am hungry to learn from my staff and want to empower them to achieve in their workplace. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” … I couldn’t do what I do without the support from my staff.

What is most rewarding about your role?

Each and every day I make a difference in not only my customer’s lives, but that of my staff and community.

We see our pharmacy as its own community. Our team and customers come together to contribute to a variety of wonderful causes by way of donating time, gifts, and money.

We actively encourage and provide financial support to our team to undertake further training to increase their professional knowledge and skills, giving them every opportunity to thrive in our working environment.

Capital Chemist Southland won the 2017 Guild Pharmacy of the Year: Business Management award; what does this achievement mean to you?

My business partner Louise McLean was the driver for us to apply for 2017 Guild Pharmacy of the Year.

Winning this award confirms that we are excelling in our work and creating a difference in our customer’s lives.

We are making a difference in our community. We are striving towards innovation and excellence. Louise and I know we have a great workplace and staff who work hard to provide the level of service our customers come to expect. We know we are heading in the right direction and will keep seeking to improve our service offerings.

Who inspires you?

My family inspire me to work hard to get back. My husband is my biggest fan, and has supported me in this leadership journey when it began as a managing pharmacist five years ago. He has been there when times have been stressful, when I have needed to stay back at work to get the job done. My husband listens when I need to talk about an idea or issue out loud. My daughter, while only young, is also a large inspiration for me. I want to show her anything is possible if you work hard enough and follow your dreams. She inspires me to be a better mother and business woman.

Lastly, my business partner Louise inspires me to put in the effort to seek the rewards. Louise has been in the leadership role a few years longer than me and is a great source of advice, is the hardest worker I have ever worked with, and is great to have a laugh or a cry with!

What advice would you give to someone about to embark on their leadership journey?

Give it a go, you will never turn back! I love leading my team and showing them that anything is possible.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY June 27 - She Leads Workshop: Get Your Voice Heard with Lightbulb Improv

July 10 - 14 - Girls Rock Canberra Winter Session

June 27 - Eat, Drink and be Literary with Julia Baird & Alex Sloan

August 9 - Women in Media Networking Night: Women in Media and Cyberhate

July 4 - Jamila Rizvi in conversation with Daryl Karp on Jamila's new book, Not Just Lucky

August 10-12 - ANU presents: Women in the Creative Arts -Research Conference

July 7-9 - Lifeline Southside Bookfair

August 16 - She Leads In-Conversation with Celeste Liddle and Sarah Burr

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CON FERENCE

#sheleads2017

Facebook.com/SheLeads

MINDFUL COLOURING @sheleadscbr

@SheLeadsCBR

SHE LEADS IN-CONVERSATION WITH ANNE SUMMERS

SHE LEADS IN-CONVERSATION WITH ANNE SUMMERS

CSW61 HOMECOMING EVENT

CSW61 HOMECOMING EVENT

SHE LEADS CONFERENCE 2017

SHE LEADS CONFERENCE 2017 SHE LEADS CONFERENCE 2017

Facebook.com/YWCACanberra @YWCACanberra @YWCACanberra

SHE LEADS CONFERENCE 2017

youtube.com/YWCACANBERRA

www.ywca-canberra.org.au

SHE LEADS CONFERENCE 2017