International Women's Day 2024

For this panel we were joined by Nicole Werner MP, Member for Warrandyte, Eden Foster MP, Member for Mulgrave, Commissioner Jennifer Huppert from the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Professor Julianne Moss from Deakin University, who together provided insights into how they have both been supported throughout their careers and how they are supporting other women.

The event was chaired by Daizy Mann, a youth entrepreneur, who with our panel explored the importance of mentorship, speaking up and finding your voice, and discussed some of the key issues that still impacting women's progress today, along with some sage pieces of advice. 

Nicole Werner MP, the first female member for Warrandyte and the first member of Asian descent in the Legislative Assembly, reflected on her career as a youth worker prior to entering parliament. She worked closely with disadvantaged young people, the homeless and refugee communities during this time. Nicole credited the start of her leadership journey with her desire to chart her own course and go against the status quo, along with the support she received from various leaders along the way.

The election of Eden Foster MP, the first female member for Mulgrave and the first person of Indian descent in the Legislative Assembly, brought parliament into gender parity. Prior to entering parliament, Eden was a clinical psychologist who worked in schools and was the Mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong. Eden credited her start in leadership to school teachers who saw something in her that she did not recognise or see in herself.

Commissioner Jennifer Huppert is a practicing lawyer with over 30 year's experience, a previous member of the Legislative Council and has been a board member for a range of organisations. It was the Girl Guide and Girl Scout movement where Jennifer was first provided leadership opportunities and where she learnt some of her most important leadership skills. 

Professor Julianne Moss is the director for REDI (Research for Educational Impact) at Deakin University and has spent her life working in schools and school systems, working nationally and internationally to shape policy and practice that makes for better futures. For Julianne it was her school teachers who helped her recognise that there were potentially great futures to be made outside farming, and this was reiterated by her family who also recognised her capability.

The panel covered a great deal of ground from how to speak up when you're not the loudest person in the room to how to get involved and be involved when you're not sure you have the confidence or even the skills to do so. There were so many great pieces of advice, but her are just a few additional messages:

• You cannot be what you cannot see
• Be the ceiling for someone else’s floor
• Embrace your youth; people love young people with initiative and get excited about working with young people
• Find a mentor who supports you; sometimes, these people see things in you that you don’t yet see in yourself
• Take opportunities that come your way and don’t be shy to put your hand up for thes
• Take healthy risks
• Speak up in your own way and a way that you are comfortable with
• It is important that we nurture everyone, women and men; nothing will change unless there is respect for each other in our community.

'Following your passion is important, and if you do this, it is really easy to do well.'

All the panel members highlighted the incredible importance of mentors and networks to help build yourself, your confidence, and your sphere of influence. They suggested thinking about what you want to be noticed for, how you want to do it and what your values are as a leader. This can help find what you’re interested in and focus on how you can apply yourself and learn the most you can.

Resources that highlight inclusion and female leaders

Aboriginal Change Makers

The Aboriginal Change Makers resource explores the stories of several Victorian Aboriginal women, and men, who used their voices to advocate for change and self-determination.  

Women of politics and parliament

The Women of politics and parliament resource introduces Lady Millie Peacock, the first woman elected to the Parliament of Victoria, and asks students to consider what impact women like Lady Peacock and other perhaps less recognisable figures have, or have had, on Parliament of Victoria and all Victorians.

Inside Parliament 

Pages seven and eight of Inside Parliament explores parliament through the years, and highlights several key milestones and significant events for women in the history of Parliament of Victoria, such as when the Adult Suffragette Act was passed and when the first woman and first Indigenous woman were elected to Parliament