The ESK blog
International Women’s Day 2023
08 March 2023
Dr Anne Thomson
Australia ranks 43rd in the World on the World Economic Forum’s Gender Equality Index 2022, behind Belarus, Nicaragua and Rwanda. Yes, we’re all very proud! NOT!
Why?
Well, while we women make up a solid 47% of the workforce, we take home an average of $250 per week less than men.
The official gender pay gap is 15.3% and it’s been stubbornly stuck between 15 and 19% for 2 decades!
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity.
In 2020–21, specialist homelessness services agencies assisted around 116,200 clients of whom ¾ were women and there are a lot of little boys in these figures.
We also know that 74% of hospitalisations for domestic assault are women and girls.
So at ESK we decided to partner with Friends with Dignity to try to help put a smile on the faces of women fleeing Domestic Violence.
We started the day talking with Tracey Wickham who both volunteers for the organization and manages their community engagements.
Eyes were welling and heads were nodding as Tracey shared the stories of so many women and families helped by Friends with Dignity.
She told us about the Sanctuary Program, which deploys incredible, dedicated volunteers to transform houses into homes for people who have escaped domestic violence to start their new journey with dignity, free from abuse.
Families fleeing domestic violence and abuse might have a new home arranged from them, but usually have not one thing to their name.
No beds, kettles, toasters, let alone sheets, towels, shampoo or laundry powder.
Friends with Dignity volunteers take a truck full of items donated by supporters from fridges and couches to cushions, toys and of course personal care items.
All are arranged with love to welcome these often-traumatised families to their new homes so that they can feel safe.
We gathered and packed pamper packs for women fleeing domestic violence to help them feel cared for and bring a spark of joy to their day!
If you want to host a fund raiser, volunteer to join the team, donate much needed household good, or just find out more about Friends with Dignity, reach out on info@friendswithdignity.org.au