International Women’s Day is celebrated globally each year on 8 March. It’s an important day to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls. Across our schools, workplaces and wider education community, we strive to achieve gender parity, creating positive environments where everyone can succeed and maximise their own individual potential.
International Women’s Day is celebrated during
Queensland Women’s Week.
Each year, across the department, we hold a range of other events and activities to support the day.
Queensland Women’s Week
Held annually,
Queensland Women’s Week is an expansion of International Women’s Day, providing for a week long, statewide celebration of the achievements of Queensland women and girls.
Investing in Queensland Women grants
In line with Queensland Women’s Week, the Queensland Government runs the
Investing in Queensland Women grants program. This program consolidates and replaces the previous Queensland Women’s Week, Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month and Sexual Violence Awareness Month grants programs.
Incorporated, not-for-profit, community sector organisations and Queensland local government authorities are eligible to apply for one-off funding of up to $15,000 to deliver initiatives that align with the Queensland Government’s strategic priorities for women and girls. Round 2 funding will open on 1 July 2021 for initiatives that will be delivered within a 6-month period. Parents’ and citizens associations may be eligible to apply. Guidelines and eligibility criteria can be found at
Investing in Queensland Women grants.
United Nations International Women’s Day – resources for schools
To mark International Women’s Day 2021, United Nations (UN) Australia developed a free
schools kit for primary and secondary schools to download.
The school kits provide inspirational stories of women leaders from across the world and ideas for classroom activities.
Visit the
UN Women Australia’s website to find out how women and girls have helped shape a more equal future.
Department of Education Pathways to Parity workforce strategy
When students are understood and have role models like them, they have the best chance of succeeding. Our workforce is pivotal to accomplishing this, as students form gender stereotypes based on their observation of role models within the school environment. Creating inclusive, gender balanced workplaces is vital to delivering inclusive educational services and a better future for all Queenslanders.
The department aims to provide workplaces where all employees have the same rights, access and opportunities to employment and career pathways, enabling them to balance work and life commitments and participate fully in our workplaces.
The
Pathways to Parity – accelerating the path to gender parity (PDF, 1MB) sets out a clear plan on how the department will achieve increased gender parity and demonstrate the value we place on the diversity of our staff.
Other initiatives and programs