Looking to sharpen your organising skills, learn from successful campaigns and connect with union women from across Victoria? The Women's Rights at Work Conference is back for two days of workshops, discussions and solidarity, bringing together women and gender diverse unionists from across industries to learn, connect and build collective power.
Last year, our conference was one of the Victorian union movement's flagship annual events. It brought together more than 150 union women from across our mighty movement to share their experiences, victories and organising strategies.
In August, we're back with two days of panels, practical workshops and discussions focused on the issues shaping women's working lives today, from fighting for gender equality and psychosocial health to workplace activism, bargaining and organising against the rise of the far right.
We can’t wait to see you there!
WRAW Conference is open to all women and gender-diverse unionists. Tickets are limited and essential.
Download the access key HERE.
Conference Program
*This program is subject to change. Check back on this page regularly for new speaker announcements and updates.
Friday 21 August
8.15 am - Registration opens
9:00am - Welcome
Welcome to Country
Solidarity Statement, Diversity Statement
Conference welcome, overview of a year in union women organising! (Wil Stracke, Assistant Secretary of Victorian Trades Hall Council)
9:30am - Key note
Isobel Morphy-Walsh, Gellung Warl on Treaty and solidarity
Isobel is a proud Nirim Baluk bagruk (woman) from the Dhang Wurrung (Taungurung). She is the Reserved Seat holder representing Taungurung Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. Isobel has spent her life working with her community with a particular emphasis on country, culture, connection, history and its relevance to today.
Isobel has held several governance roles over the years serving previously on Taungurung Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation’s Board, Victorian Corporation of Languages Board and Nation Exhibition Touring Schemes Board.
Isobel has a background in arts, culture and heritage working across the museum, gallery, visual arts, theatre, education and writing sectors, and is a weaver, writer and artist herself.
10.00 am - Special guest speaker
10.15 am - Morning tea
Take the opportunity to connect with union women from across industries before the day's panel discussions and workshops begin.
10:30 am - Panel: Women on Strike!
From health professionals to journalists, librarians to educators, women have been leading some of the most significant industrial campaigns in Victoria. We’ll be spotlighting the union women taking industrial action and the conditions they’re fighting for.
11:15 am - Workshops 1
Choose one:
• EBA clause pitch: Regulating AI, Paid Disaster Leave, Women’s Advocates, Cultural and Ceremonial Leave (various union speakers)
• Union women make history: Feminist unionists timeline and tour (VTHC women’s team)
• Skills workshop (TBC)
• Knowledge workshop (TBC)
12:15pm – Lunch
1.00 pm - Panel: Solidarity matters: Combatting the rise of the far right
Union and community leaders discuss the fight against the far right, and why it is more important than ever to show up for each other.
1.45pm - Panel: Organising for Psychosocial Health at Work
New psychosocial health regulations are helping us tackle workload, occupational violence, harassment and more. Hear from women Health and Safety Representatives about how they’ve been able to fight for safer conditions in their workplaces.
2.30pm – Workshops 2
Choose one:
• It’s For Every Body: Reproductive Health is a Workplace Issue (VTHC Women’s Team)
• Women HSRs Network Chat: Interested in OHS? Get to know union HSRs across industries! (VTHC Women’s Team)
• Solidarity in Action: Standing up for workers at the ballot box (Victorian Labour College)
• Solidarity in Action: Understanding and combatting anti-trans sentiment and messages (Trans Justice Project)
3.30pm - Conference photo
3.35pm - Solidarity and Social Activities in the Loading Bay
Get up and dance, do some crafts or chat casually with a comrade you met today about what you’ve learned! Snacks and drinks will be available.
4.30pm - Day 1 close.
Saturday 22 August
9.15 am - Registration opens
10:00am - Welcome
Acknowledgement of Country, Solidarity Statement, Diversity Statement
Overview of our plan to make workplaces gender equal through the Workplaces for Women Program (Caro Dunbar – VTHC Women’s Team Lead)
10.15 am - Special guest speaker
10.45 am - Panel: Women Leading Women!
Women working in transport, manufacturing and other historically male-dominated industries share how they have challenged barriers, advocated for their co-workers and created change in their workplaces. Hear practical lessons in leadership, confidence and workplace organising from graduates of the Equal Workplace Advocate and Anna Stewart Memorial Project.
11:30 am – Workshops 1
Choose one
• Tools for change: Assessing gender equality at your workplace: a ‘how-to’ for using the Workplaces for Women Gender Equality Audit Tool and resources to support gender equality and diversity at work
• Understanding the gender pay gap: What causes the gap and how can we fix it? A practical workshop using WGEA data for your workplace and strategies for action at work
12:30pm - Lunch and union bingo
1.15pm - Panel: Women to the Front!
From manufacturing, maritime, science and tech, hear from the union women supporting other women to join and thrive in historically male dominated industries and occupations.
2.00pm - Workshops 2
Choose one
• Tools for change: Bargaining for Equality: A deep dive into the bargaining for equality resources and pitch your case for a new equality entitlement at work!
• Understanding the gender pay gap (Repeat): What causes the pay gap and how can we fix it? A practical workshop using WGEA data for your workplace and strategies for action at work
2.55pm - Reflections and conference close.
TicketsTickets are limited and essential. Full conference: Discounted rate of $90.00. Friday - Day 1 only, 9.00am - 4.30pm, $60.00 Saturday - Day 2 only – 10.00am - 3.00pm, $40.00 Affiliates: Please enquire directly at: [email protected] to organise union-sponsored delegations. |
Access:
The Conference is conducted in accordance with the values described in VTHC's Solidarity Statement and Diversity Statement.
Babies and children are welcome.
Download the access key HERE.
Please contact us at [email protected] about an unwaged ticket discount or to enquire about childcare or additional access needs.