Alliance Rehabilitation is proud to support International Women’s Day each year. It is a day to acknowledge and reflect upon the women’s movement towards an equal future. This year the theme is – ‘A challenged world is an alert world’. At Alliance Rehabilitation, we believe in equality and continue to challenge situations which may affect this goal. Our team is made up of forward thinking, supportive people who challenge the status quo and take an active role in addressing gender inequality.
International Women’s Day allows us to reflect on how far we have come, and how far we still have to go. The healthcare industry requires continuous improvement and work to achieve equality. Alliance Rehabilitation’s team members work hard to minimise the barriers women face in the workforce and speak out against unacceptable behaviours.
To mark this occasion, we asked our CEO, coordinators, and discipline team leaders to reflect upon what International Women’s Day means to them.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
IWD gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on everyone’s contribution to the workplace, community, and our everyday life. It is a moment to consider what truly matters.
Which women are you inspired by in your local community?
I am most inspired by the women and men I work with. The people who get up everyday and come to work to make a difference to the participants they work with; the everyday hero. People who challenge themselves and their colleagues to do better and seek better outcomes for everyone.
What role or impact would you like to play in relation to women’s rights, today?
I can make an impact by providing a safe environment for women (and men) to grow and to seek satisfaction in their work and balance in their lives. I enjoy the diversity each individual brings to our workplace and work family and encourage a fair and balanced work space.
Name a song, film, or book by women that has made a lasting impression on you.
The Wife Drought by Annabel Crabb
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, it is a day to celebrate the strength, value, and achievements of women from all different walks of life who are doing amazing things for the global community of women and who are working hard to address gender inequality.
Which women are you inspired by in your local community?
I am inspired by the women in my family, friendship group, and my team-mates every day. It is likely many women have faced prejudice, abuse or violence, lost opportunities, or been underestimated for being a woman at some point in our lives (even if we didn’t realise it at the time). To see so many women I know, and love, working hard to achieve their career or personal goals and raise their families (sometimes simultaneously!) despite all the barriers they face as women is inspiring to me.
I would say my biggest inspiration right now would be Australian of the Year, Grace Tame. She is a force to be reckoned with. Her bravery and advocacy work as a sexual assault survivor has given many women the strength, courage, and voice they needed to come forward about their own experiences. Her actions of calling out those responsible for unacceptable behaviour towards women, has led to essential national conversations which I hope to continue to establish action and permanent changes for the future.
Being a female athlete requires a type of strength and resilience which I find so admirable. The barriers for women engaging in meaningful activity and sport are many, and more than 50% of girls stop playing sport by age 15! Having a vocal advocate for women in sport, like Ash Brazill, is inspiring to me. The hard-work and perseverance Ash required to reach dual-code elite national level competition in both netball (also representing Australia in netball) and AFLW, at the same time (in the same season!!) whilst also raising her newborn son with her wife and working is inspiring stuff! Sport still has a long, long way to go in terms of bridging the gender gap between men and women at a professional level – but with women like Ash Brazill leading the charge, I think we are in safe hands for the future.
What role or impact would you like to play in relation to women’s rights, today?
I would like to be a positive role model for women in my workplace and community. Small acts of bravery every day shouldn’t be discounted or seen as “invaluable”.
Just because you don’t feel like you are changing the world, doesn’t mean your actions aren’t valuable or meaningful.
I want to encourage women I know to have open discussions with their family, friends, and workmates about respecting women and their rights to feel safe, valued, and supported. I want all individuals to feel confident and brave enough to call out unacceptable behaviour against women. It really does start with us.
Name a song, film, or book by women that has made a lasting impression on you.
I always admired Nancy Wake (The White Mouse) growing up as a young woman. Her autobiographical book is truly inspirational – a brave young Australian woman living in France during WWII, joins the French Resistance in the fight against the Nazis. Nancy ends up being the most evasive and wanted freedom fighter during the war, and through her valiant efforts (she’s smart as a whip and has the courage of a lion), she helps the allied forces to win a war that no one ever thought would end. I didn’t know girls could do what Nancy did when I was a girl, and to know that bravery lived inside of someone just like me certainly changed the way I saw the world.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a day where the challenges and achievements of women are acknowledged in a public and global setting. I think it’s an opportunity to highlight that gender bias continues to exist and we need to consistently commit to changing this. The events held on International Women’s Day celebrate how far we’ve come in this challenge and what our next step is for change.
What role or impact would you like to play in relation to women’s rights, today?
I think my best impact will be outwardly correcting gender assumptions in my work, social and family circles. It seems small, but these people that surround me respect me and are more likely to listen when I politely point out the gender error. Stopping someone when they use phrases such as “that’s a girl colour or a girl’s toy”, “she’s a tomboy”, telling someone to “man up”, describing a female friend or family member as “bossy” yet the same traits in a male would be described as “leadership”. In my work in allied health I often get comments that I have a female profession because it involves caring, nurturing, and supporting someone. I respond by saying that these actions are indeed part of my job, a job that’s completed equally well by my male colleagues. With this simple act I hope to combat this culture and encourage others to pay it forward by correcting others.
Name a song, film, or book by women that has made a lasting impression on you.
Three years ago I listened to a TED talk by Sarah Knight entitled The Magic of Not Giving a F***. I identified with the content as I too felt the pressure of meeting obligations and expectations. Being a great friend, carrying my load in the family unit, sacrificing my work-life balance under the impression of progressing my career. Often, I would experience stress, guilt, and exhaustion when I fell short in any of these areas. As a woman, I think there is an expectation to do everything and be everything to everyone. I’m not sure there’s the same expectation on men. Since the TED talk, I continually try to implement the “Not Sorry Method” and only spend my time, energy, and money on the things that are important to me and bring me happiness. Sometimes I revert back to overcommitting, but on the most part I get to be a woman that is proud of her job and not overstressed, hangs out with people that fill her cup rather than drain it, and is confident in her values and beliefs. By doing so, I like to think I’m kicking the female stereotype and helping build a new more positive one.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a day where we can reflect on how far we have come as a whole and celebrate women for all that they are worth no matter their occupation, position, or background.
Which women are you inspired by in your local community?
Prior to this year, I was heavily involved in netball. The ladies who represent their respective clubs as Presidents by attending meetings, seminars, games, training, trials, travelling, and working full time jobs with families is incredible. They do this all so the kids or adults in their club can have great seasons and amazing experiences in the sport as a voluntary role. It is truly inspiring to see good people, locally, do good things out of passion and good will for the benefit of others.
What role or impact would you like to play in relation to women’s rights, today?
I would like to be a part of the women who support each other and grow from one another. I want to support those who will come after our generation and show them that independence, education, and a strong mindset can get you through life professionally and personally. Pushing women’s rights in a way of respectfulness and assertiveness to support each other and thrive in a team environment, male or female, is what is important to me.
Name a song, film, or book by women that has made a lasting impression on you.
Rupi Kaur- Milk and Honey.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day to me means celebrating the success of all women in today’s society. Society posed significant restrictions and challenges against women and today signifies the success of breaking down those barriers.
Which women are you inspired by in your local community?
Kate Banville – Journalist and Veteran – being a part of the Women’s Veterans’ Network Australia supporting all women who have served and are advocating on their behalf, giving veterans a voice.
What role or impact would you like to play in relation to women’s rights, today?
Being a supporter and enabler of women’s rights.
Name a song, film, or book by women that has made a lasting impression on you.
Dear Mr President – Pink
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It is a day that acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of women and encourages our community to support women.
Which women are you inspired by in your local community?
Andrea van Grinsven inspires me every day with her incredible business skills and her dedication to the North Queensland community.
What role or impact would you like to play in relation to women’s rights, today?
I would love to support women in challenging gender dynamics, to pursue their goals, and live a life that is fulfilling for them.
Name a song, film, or book by women that has made a lasting impression on you.
Frozen, for showing girls that their ‘Prince Charming’ does not have to be a prince, but it could be a sister.
What role or impact would you like to play in relation to women’s rights, today?
I strive to be a leader who facilitates equality in all team members, supports everyone to grow and develop, and challenges them everyday to promote the necessary changes in our community. For me, women’s rights go further than just the women who are alive today, it’s building a better world for the women who will come after us and in memory for those who have come before us.
Name a song, film, or book by women that has made a lasting impression on you.
My inspiration for strong, compassionate, and independent women comes from the movie, The Blind Side, which is based on a true story where a wealthy woman and her family take in a homeless boy and provide him with a new life and opportunities. The main character is sure of herself and her decisions, she has a very clear vision of what is right, and does not hesitate to follow this in every aspect of her life.
Two of our team members attended an International Women’s Day 2021 luncheon at The Ville presented by the Townsville Business Women’s Circle. The event was sold out and filled with women in all stages of their career, as well as men celebrating their colleague’s successes. Dr Rachel Baird spoke at the event, imparting wisdom she has learnt throughout her career and instilling four key goals to actively inspire equality: Courage, Competence, Compassion, and Clarity. Dr Baird shared her vision for the future and encouraged everyone in attendance to dare to challenge.