International Women's Day - About

• The theme for IWD 2024 is Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress*. The theme recognises that women’s economic empowerment is central to a gender equal world. When women are given equal opportunities to earn, learn and lead – entire communities thrive.
• Everyone can be involved in International Women’s Day. The material on our website can be shared by your networks and on social media. The focus is on recognising and responding to the conscious and unconscious gender bias that is still evident in our communities.
• Some women are affected by multiple types of bias or discrimination and face additional challenges or barriers to participation in their communities, workplaces and in leadership roles.
• The Western Australian Government developed Stronger Together: WA’s Plan for Gender Equality as a framework for government, business and the community to take action towards a better, fairer and more equitable community in Western Australia.
• The Department of Communities has been working closely across WA Government agencies and the community to lead change through the implementation of Stronger Together.
• The State Government's second action plan under 'Stronger Together: WA's Plan for Gender Equality' was launched in 2022, continuing its commitment to create better outcomes for women and girls and achieve positive change for our whole community.  
• One initiative from the second action plan, has seen the Western Australian Government extending a ground-breaking 12 month procurement pilot to raise awareness of the benefits of gender equality in the workplace. Further information and a summary evaluation is available at Gender equality in procurement.   

* Please note UN Women Australia recently updated the tagline and the theme is now Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress.

• If you’re interested in a snapshot of the status of women in 2022, the State Government's 2022 Women's Report Card shows how far Western Australian women have progressed in terms of leadership, economic independence, safety and justice, and health and wellbeing.
• The snapshot is released every three years and is produced by the Department of Communities in partnership with the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.
• While this report shows that progress is being made in many areas, it recognises that barriers for women still persist.
• In 2020, women’s average full-time remuneration was 19% less than men’s, in STEM-qualified industries, compared to 20% in all industries. This equates to an average pay gap of $28,994 in STEM-qualified industries, compared to $25,534 across all industries.¹

 ¹ 2022 Women's Report Card  

• Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress. This theme will examine the pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere.
• International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the gains we have made toward gender equality – and recognise that major change is still required.
• This International Women’s Day, we can all play a part in accelerating gender equality through economic empowerment.  
• Despite high levels of education, women in Western Australia continue to face barriers to workforce participation, along with a highly gendered labour market and widespread undervaluing of care work. This inequity has far reaching impacts, and can lead to entrenched disadvantage, financial insecurity and poverty. (Women’s Economic Security Webinar – WACOSS).
• Women’s economic empowerment is central to a gender equal world. When women have equal opportunities to earn, learn and lead – entire communities thrive.
• Economic independence is one of the most important indicators of gender equality. It empowers women with the ability to make choices, enhancing their careers and overall wellbeing.

#CountHerIn
#IWD2024