Celebrate Victorian women

What is #CelebrateVicWomen?

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate all Victorian women, in all their diversity.

Women of all backgrounds and identities make incredible contributions to life in Victoria.

When we #CelebrateVicWomen we recognise these contributions and challenge the biases that prevent women from accessing equal opportunities economically, in the workforce and in public life.

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What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on 8 March. IWD is an opportunity for people and organisations to reflect on women’s contributions at all levels of society and galvanise efforts towards gender equality for women and girls around the world.

The theme for this year's International Women’s Day is "Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future". This highlights the role that bold ideas, inclusive technologies, and accessible education can play in combatting discrimination and the marginalisation of women globally.

Women and girls are vastly underrepresented in all aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) - from education, to the workplace, and in access to technology. This impacts the way we live, and these gender biases show up in every day life.

Ensuring equal access to education, career pathways, leadership opportunities and inclusive workplaces for women in STEM is key to #CrackingTheCode to gender equality.

So what are we doing about it?

We are doing all we can to create a gender equal future in STEM, innovation and beyond.

Take a look at some of these initiatives that are key to not only progressing gender equality but also a way to access an enormous pool of untapped talent and opportunity, achieve Victoria’s scientific potential and fill critical skills shortages.

Supporting women’s innovation through the Alice Anderson Fund, a $10 million angel sidecar fund set up to help start-ups led by women gain traction and scale quickly.
Investing almost $3 million to develop targeted industry strategies to boost women’s participation in energy and manufacturing.
Building on the success of the Victorian Government’s Women in Construction Strategy, this work will see us partner with key industry players to support women to find fulfilling careers at all levels of these innovative, high-growth sectors.
Running specialised streams of our successful Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders Program for women in male dominated industries.
Funding innovative pilot programs, like Veski’s Inspiring Women Program that bridge the funding gap and support women to continue their research in Victoria at a critical point in their careers.
Celebrating and increasing the visibility of outstanding women through initiatives like the Honour Roll of Women.
Funding $100,000 worth of scholarships to Women in Security Pilot Program - a training course to be delivered with the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN).
The creation of the Women and Girls in STEM map to connect women and girls to the wealth of STEM opportunities available in Victoria.
Partnering with the University of Melbourne for the STEM Centre of Excellence at Science Gallery Melbourne to support the collision of art and science.