Dear Parents and Guardians,

Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day 2018 – but, at the urging of our Senior Leaders, have turned this day into International Women’s Week.  The extended time frame is designed to give our boys the opportunity to express their understanding and thoughts about the issues confronting women in modern society, and to bounce their ideas off their peers and mentors. This week’s mentor discussions, house meetings and chapels have a common theme: “International Women’s Week and why it is important”. 

International Women’s Week, and its theme #PressforProgess, aims to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. And though it is right that we do celebrate them, we must remember there is still work to be done. No single person and no single act can perfectly resolve the inequality faced by many women across our planet.

During our IWD Assembly, Dr Mulford quoted from a report released on Tuesday titled “Australian Women’s Working Futures 2017”. The report found:

• Fewer than a third of Australian working women believe they are treated equally to men
• Four in five women said “having a job in which I am treated with respect” was the one thing that matters a lot to their working lives
• One in ten women experience sexual harassment in their current jobs
• One in four women said their current role did not allow them to fully use their skills, knowledge and abilities
• More than half of the women – 52 per cent – said men were treated better at work than women.

So what can we do?

Our boys have the ability to create awareness of the inequalities that women face. They can celebrate the way women contribute to their lives no matter how big or small.  They can show gratitude and they have the opportunity to start a conversation!

Lachlan McIntyre closed his IWD address to assembly with the following:

“What is a legacy? Legacy is about life and living. It’s about learning from the past, living in the present, and building for the future. While we are young men we have an opportunity to gain understanding that we can one day voice to an audience that may consist of your employees, your students, your country or even your own children. As we #PressforProgress we ensure a better future for the young women and men to come.”