International Women's Day

International Women’s Day (IWD), held globally on 8 March each year, celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future.

The Office for Women leads the Queensland Government's participation in International Women's Day.

The 2012 theme – everything is possible!

The Queensland Government theme for 2012 IWD celebrations was ‘everything is possible’.

The ’everything is possible’ message encouraged women and girls to challenge stereotypes, explore career options and embrace the opportunities that Queensland has to offer in traditionally male-dominated sectors. 

Make ‘everything is possible’ your personal mantra for 2012 and open up new possibilities for your future! 

IWD 2012 Queensland events

The Queensland Government provided a selection of free promotional materials and promoted nearly 80 IWD celebratory events across the state through the online Community Calendar.

IWD 2012 event profiles

Zonta Club of Longreach

Although Zonta International aims to improve the health, education, economic and political status of women and girls worldwide, the Zonta Club of Longreach also works hard to advance the status of women within the local community. A long standing tradition for the Zonta Club of Longreach is their International Women’s Day brunch, which celebrates women and their achievements, and acknowledges a local woman each year through the Zonta Achiever Award, with this year’s award going to community volunteer and writer, Elaine Britton.

This year, in keeping with the Queensland Government’s “Everything is possible” theme, the Zonta Club of Longreach held their annual brunch in the courtyard of the Longreach town hall, with ABC radio journalist Chrissy Arthur interviewing a panel of women who work in non-traditional roles. Their jobs were diverse and included an aeronautical engineer, a wool classer, a truck driver, a police officer, a grazier and an apprentice electrician. They described the changing perceptions through time, the challenges and rewards of their chosen careers and advice for other women.

Women in Mining and Queensland Resources Council

Women in Mining and Resources Queensland and the Queensland Resources Council partnered to host several International Women’s Day events across the state, linking hundreds of women from Mount Isa, Moranbah, Townsville and Brisbane via a live internet broadcast.

The QRC also used the day to present their annual Resources Awards for Women to promote and profile women in the resource sector as part of their plan to increase the proportion of women working in non-traditional roles in the sector from the current 11 percent to 20 percent by 2020.

Harmony Working Group (Yeppoon)

Originally formed 12 years ago by local Baha’i people, Harmony Working Group is a group of volunteers who are working towards building tolerance and promoting social justice in the Capricorn Coast community. On International Women’s Day, the group hosted a lunch attended by over 50 local women, as well as the then Member for Keppel, Paul Hoolihan. As well as being challenged by MC Loretta George, Psychologist to think about what “Everything is possible” means to them, participants spoke about facing their fears, survival and growing into their successes. The other speaker for the day was Psychologist Charlotte Simmons who gave an inspiring talk on looking within to find and build peace, strength and resilience.

Singer and guitarist Amelia Kase performed her first solo gig at the event and gold coin donations were taken for local Indigenous woman Evelyn Carte to put towards assisting Indigenous girls in the community.

Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre

The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre has been operating for 21 years and currently provides a community-run long day care centre, a second hand store and a drop-in information and support hub which provides low-cost activities, visiting services, family support and crisis counselling, and a volunteer program. To celebrate International Women’s Day, the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre held their annual fundraising luncheon at the Salsa Bar and Grill, as well as a night of song dance and secret women’s business at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre.

The speakers at the two events illustrated their life journeys and the challenges they had experienced and overcome with humour and wisdom – inspiring all women who attended to believe that “Everything is possible”.

Acting Centre Coordinator Jo De Riva O’Phelan said that International Women’s Day “Reminds us of the work done in the past to promote women’s rights and the continued contributions women make in our community and to inspire us to continue to work together and most importantly to enjoy and celebrate the triumphs and pitfalls that are life!”

Hamilton Island Enterprises

As part of a small community of employees who live and work on Hamilton Island, Hamilton Island Enterprises focuses not just on business, but also on creating a strong community environment. On Thursday 8 March 2012, 35 female employees attended an afternoon tea to celebrate and discuss the theme “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures”.

One of the main highlights from the afternoon was the “round the world café”, which saw the participants divided into groups and provided with an array of topics for discussion, such as pay equity, work-life balance, mentoring programs and the role of women in the workforce. The women were able to share their thoughts and opinions with their peers, and explore how these areas have impacted women in the past and discuss ideas on how they can be improved for women in the future, particularly within the company.

Queensland Trucking Association

On Wednesday 7 March 2012, the Queensland Trucking Association Ltd, the principal Trucking/Road Freight Industry Association in Queensland, held their inaugural industry breakfast to recognise the significant contribution that women make to the industry in Queensland. 

The breakfast, held in conjunction with the Transform Branch of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Transport Women Australia Ltd, was named “Women in Road Transport: Everything is Possible” and featured a panel discussion about how gender diversity is moving the road transport and freight industry forward.

As a traditionally male dominated industry, the Queensland Trucking Association took the opportunity to recognise women in road transport and highlight the reasons why the industry needs diversity. They are hoping to make this an annual event.

View International Women's Day events on our Community Calendar.