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International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March to bring awareness of women’s issues; increase the visibility of women’s achievements in the community; and promote gender equality.
This year’s campaign theme is #embraceequity, which advocates for promoting gender equality and contributes towards preventing domestic and family violence within the community.
To celebrate International Women's Day in 2023, Council is running a series of events showcasing women’s leadership and influence in our community.
The events, which range from movie showings to panel discussions highlight a community of diverse women who #embraceequity within their own sphere of influence.
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Celebrating International Women’s Day Lunch When: 7 March, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Where: St Patrick's Cathedral Hall, 1 Marist Place, ParramattaYou and your friends are invited to a special lunch to Celebrate Local Women.
There will be performances, inspiring speeches, and an arts workshop.
Activities for children will also be provided.
Be inspired. Have Fun. Embrace Equity.
Find out more
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Coffee and Oracle Card Readings with Nicole Barakat When: 7 – 9 March, 11:30am – 1:30pm (3 consecutive days)
Where: PHIVE Ground Floor Foyer, 5 Parramatta Square, Parramatta
Find out more
As part of International Women’s Day at PHIVE we welcome you to join us in the foyer for Coffee and Oracle Card Readings with artist, Nicole Barakat.
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Embracing Equity: International Women's Day Panel Discussion When: 8 March, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Where: Parramatta Library at PHIVE, 5 Parramatta Square, ParramattaJoin us for "Embracing Equity: An International Women's Day Panel Discussion" where our panellists will engage in a thought-provoking conversation exploring equity in different industries and its intersection with innovation.
- Mala Mehta is the founder of the first structured Hindi language school in Sydney and the first Indian woman to be awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2006 for her work promoting Indian culture and assisting new migrants in Australia. Her voluntary teaching of Hindi promotes equity and celebrates diversity while bridging understanding in Australian society.
- Kate Stevens is a cognitive scientist and the Director of the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour & Development at Western Sydney University. As the Editor-in-Chief of Music Perception and a Professor in Psychology at Western Sydney University, Kate is committed to promoting innovative and equitable research that benefits society at large.
- Melissa Ran, technology startup community leader who promotes equity and innovation in the industry. She previously served as Head of Community at AirTree, one of Australia's largest venture capital funds. Before that, Melissa was a Startup Program Manager at UNSW and started out her career at Procter & Gamble in sales and marketing.
Find out more -
Exhibition On Screen: Mary Cassatt - Painting the Modern Woman When: 8 March, 7:30pm, and 11 March, 1:30pm
Where: Riverside Theatres, Corner of Church and Market Streets, ParramattaA Cinema Screening of Mary Cassatt's works, who made a career painting a series of the lives of women around her.
Find out more -
Future of Women in Western Sydney Summit When: 8 March, 9:00am – 3:30pm
Where: CommBank Stadium, 11-13 O’Connell St, ParramattaThe Future of Women in Western Sydney Summit, taking place on International Women's Day March 8th, 2023, is designed to see Western Sydney through the lens of women. Join us as we discuss what is working, what isn’t and what needs to change in order to shape an equitable future.
Find out more
Let’s all Embrace Equity
Julia (Julz) Strykowski – 2023 Citizen of the Year Award Recipient
Julz is a Parramatta local who has been an active volunteer within the community for more than 10 years. She is a passionate environmental educator and community leader. Julz founded Boomerang Bags Parramatta and co-founded Friends of Toongabbie Creek. Julz also runs a waste-to-art program called PluckFastic. Their artwork has been featured at regional art shows and galleries in Sydney. Julz is extremely dedicated to her community, with her other volunteering efforts extending to the Parramatta Women's Shed, Greener Gatherings, and Plastic Free Parramatta.
Join Julz in striking the #EmbraceEquity pose, and share your photos across social media using #IWD2023 and #EmbraceEquity and tag @cityofparrramatta .
Let’s all play our part to #embraceequity and forge an inclusive world!
Historic articles celebrating women
Click on the button below to discover some incredible historic stories of women in our Parramatta community.
