General News
21 February, 2025
A call to March Forward: International Women's Day event set for Horsham
International Women's Day 2025 is a call to progress promises
An inspiring International Women's Day lunchtime event will explore this year's theme: March Forward.
"It's Time to Turn Promises into Progress," say organisers.
The luncheon event will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the Horsham Town Hall from 12-1.30pm.
A guided gallery tour will follow it.
Attending costs $10 for adults and $8 for a concession ticket.
International Women's Day is a time to unite to celebrate, connect, and focus on action to create a gender-equal society.
Heather Allen said she welcomed International Day to bring attention to women's challenges worldwide.
"Women are 50 per cent of the population, so why do we still have to fight for equality?" she said.
"It should be automatic."
This year's event in Horsham will spotlight health equity and access to health services for Wimmera women at all stages of life, including sexual and reproductive health and antenatal and menopause care.
"The organising committee is excited to be hosting a multi-layered approach looking at women's choices during their different life stages and what barriers might be to achieving access and equity regardless of location, especially for our Wimmera women," Robyn Lardner from the Rotary Club of Horsham East and a member of the event organising committee said.
Research shows there are many barriers for women accessing health services, ranging from gender bias, affordable care or cultural differences, which can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
The Horsham Uniting Care Team works with women and families who experience these challenges daily and will celebrate at work.
The team, Sam Gray Integrated Family Service, Katrina Janeyzki Better Futures Development, Ashleigh Gallop Program Support Officer, Nerride Holland Foster Care, Jasmine Hicks Case Manager, Allison Adams Receptionist, Jenni Miller Access to Early Learning Facilitator, Sammy O'Beirne Integrated Family Services hope for empowerment, diversity, strength, acceptance and equality for all women.
When women's interests are addressed, as the speakers at the Town Hall lunch will discuss on Friday 7, then health agencies as a combined force can achieve better solutions and bridge the gap in healthcare.
The conversation features speakers from different perspectives, including state-wide experiences of what is happening in the Wimmera and how challenges can best be addressed to improve outcomes for women of any age seeking health services for their reproductive and sexual health.
The committee is very grateful to the many sponsors supporting this event who, too, believe in the importance of 'March Forward' demonstrating leadership to build on improved, integrated services for women".
Organisers have engaged thought-provoking speakers who will examine the challenges and opportunities surrounding access to healthcare care and the power of collective action and advocacy in driving meaningful change.
Attendees will gain valuable insights into the current landscape of women's health services and how we can all contribute to improving health outcomes and will hear from Carolyn Mogharbel from 1800 My Options at Women's Health Vi, Shannon Hill from Women's Health Grampians and Emily Smith from By Five.
This event is made possible through the support of Uniting, Centre for Participation, Horsham Rural City Council, Grampians Community Health, Ballarat and Grampians Community Legal Service, Wimmera Southern Mallee Development, Rotary Club of Horsham East, Federation University, Women's Health Grampians, and Wimmera.
Community members, advocates, and professionals are invited to be part of this empowering event.
Bookings can be made through the International Women's Day Horsham website.