Helen Forde
CEO, Jesuit Mission Australia
In my experience, the Australian Jesuits actively promote and encourage the role of women in their ministries and works. In fact, the three heads of our social ministries – Jesuit Mission Australia, Jesuit Social Services and Jesuit Refugee Service – are all women.
I would, however, like to see the Catholic Church be more open to increasing the role of women in its governance structures and decision-making processes. It’s been good to see that Pope Francis recently appointed two religious women to senior roles in the Vatican … but they are small steps. We need many more!
In the community development projects that Jesuit Mission Australia supports overseas, we would like to see women play a more active role in the design, implementation and evaluation of the projects. In many societies and cultures, there’s still a very patriarchal approach to doing things and with our Jesuit partners, we want to challenge that. We want to see young women become leaders and change agents in their countries. A Jesuit education can accelerate this action!
Beth McConnell
Chair, Jesuit Education Australasia
When I graduated from The University of Melbourne in the early 90s, the proportion of women studying law was steadily increasing, but I was surprised when I commenced work to see the leadership structure of the law firm was extremely male dominated.
I was personally very fortunate, because I gravitated towards a highly capable team, largely female, and benefited from great training and true collegiality. As I had my children, I was afforded increasing flexibility in my working arrangements, including, at times, working from home long before Covid required it and when technology could just support it. But I did witness entrenched bias in action, such as “no part-time policies” and extremely limited or no parental leave.
At this time, there was much talk about improving the proportion of female leaders, debate about quotas and great expectation of change. And much has changed in the workplace since those times. Enhanced expectations of appropriate behaviour, increased protections from sexual harassment and bullying, and more flexibility in working arrangements.
What surprises me, after all these years, is that we still need to actively talk about gender equality. Women studying law have now long outnumbered men at university and gender diversity in leadership of professional services firms and corporations has improved, but gender diversity still requires discussion, monitoring and focus.
What we now know, evidenced by much research, is that the performance of an organisation is strengthened by diversity in general, including gender balance. Differences in approach, creative and innovative thinking and challenge of unconscious bias can assist delivery of an organisation’s mission and purpose. Organisations that embrace diversity and inclusion are stronger, more resilient and more likely to perform well. This remains cause for celebration and action.
Josephine Rechichi
Country Director, Jesuit Refugee Service JRS Australia
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the courage and resilience of women, especially those at the intersections of marginalisation — women of colour, disabled women, elderly women, Indigenous women, women seeking asylum, and LGBTQIA women. These women face unique challenges as they navigate the rocky path of resistance and survival. We at JRS Australia are committed to walking beside women on this journey every day, upholding their rights, dignity and agency in all that we do.
This year, the United Nations theme for International Women’s Day is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” At JRS Australia, we live this mission through our Finding Safety Project, one of the first programs in Australia dedicated to supporting women seeking asylum and those on temporary visas who have experienced or are at risk of sexual and gender-based violence. These women are often excluded from mainstream services, making pathways to safety and justice difficult to access.
JRS is committed to advocating for the rights of these women while they strive to create lives free from violence and fear. At our Women’s Space in Sydney’s west, our specialist team provides psycho-social support, financial aid, social connection, and opportunities for self-empowerment, helping to build lasting change for women, their families and their communities.
We at JRS are proud to “accelerate action for gender equality” by supporting women in leadership across all levels of our organisation, and I am honoured to lead a team of women and men who together are committed to gender equality, upholding women’s dignity and agency and who are fearless in their resistance to gender-based discrimination and violence. True equality begins when we act together and we at JRS invite all to engage in our mission and vision for a world free from gender-based violence and discrimination.
Katherine Zerounian
Principal, Redfern Jarjum College
It is time to act for the women who came before us, the women beside us, and the girls who will lead us into the future.
On International Women’s Day, we stand united in a call to action that transcends the celebrations. It is a day to reflect, challenge and inspire change, locally and globally.
In my 20 years of teaching, I’ve witnessed a powerful transformation in our schools, rooted in inclusivity and respect for all genders. We’ve seen an increased focus on using gender-inclusive language and creating safe, welcoming environments where every student and teacher feels valued. But it doesn’t stop there.
Take, for example, the proposed Collective Multi-Enterprise Agreement in New South Wales Independent Schools, which is currently up for vote. This agreement proposes provisions that champion gender equality and embrace work-life balance in once unimaginable ways. Its new parental leave policies provide vital support for both men and women. They empower women to remain in the workforce after having children and allow men to take on the primary caregiving role.
I remember last year when a young student asked me why we needed a day dedicated to women. Without hesitation, I took them to the front of our school, to stand before a large statue of Mum Shirl — a Wiradjuri woman, a social worker, a humanitarian. Mum Shirl’s life was dedicated to justice, the welfare of Aboriginal Australians, and empowering those who needed it most. We discussed how her legacy shapes Redfern and how her actions continue to resonate. And I explained to this curious, young mind that International Women’s Day is not just about honouring women — it’s about recognising the champions who have shaped our world and acknowledging the fight for gender equality that is far from over.
We must remember that gender equality is not a universal reality. While we celebrate our progress, we must confront the fact that countless women and girls worldwide still face barriers to opportunity, safety and freedom. If we are serious about accelerating global change, we must push for systemic reforms and cultural shifts. Education is at the heart of this change, which empowers individuals, particularly women and girls, to break down barriers and seize opportunities.
As we drive this change forward, we must not forget our youngest minds—the future leaders already questioning and dreaming. We must ensure they understand the importance of equality and the value of every person, regardless of gender.
Michele Frankeni
‘Australian Catholics’ editor and ‘Madonna’ magazine associate editor
It is impossible to argue there is gender equality in the world. Too many statistics on education, healthcare, earning capacity, likelihood of violence and femicide obviate any claims to the contrary. Yet, as an editor I’m privileged to fill Madonna and Australian Catholics magazines’ pages with articles about people – lay and religious, many of them women – doing amazing work to better the lives of others in their communities in Australia and overseas. No matter the odds or obstacles, these people have the courage and faith to continue to speak out for, and work to build, a better world for all. It is the first principle of Catholic social teaching in action – belief in the inherent dignity of the human person. I am proud of my work with, and the work of, Jesuit Communications to uphold that principle.
Laura Kings
Assistant editor – education and youth at ‘Australian Catholics’ magazine
I’m passionate about mentoring young writers, running an internship program, and supporting schools in effective teaching in the Catholic religious education classroom. I provide professional learning for Catholic teachers and help young people – especially women – find their voice, build confidence and express their ideas clearly. Over the years, I have seen significant progress in gender equality in my career, particularly in education and media. More women are stepping into leadership roles and being recognised for their contributions. However, there’s still more work to be done, especially in ensuring equal representation and opportunity for women in all aspects of the workplace.
Working for a Jesuit organisation, I embrace the principles of magis (the call to give more) and the Examen (a practice of reflection and discernment), which encourage continuous personal and professional growth. These values guide my work in fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where women can thrive. To further improve gender equality, we must continue providing mentorship, advocating for women in leadership, and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all.
On International Women’s Day, I am proud to stand with women in supporting and amplifying their voices in the workplace, the community, and beyond. By fostering spaces where women can excel, we take meaningful steps toward a more equitable world.
Sue Martin
Project Officer, Care for our Common Home Committee at Jesuits Australia
I have always been passionate about justice and eco-justice particularly, a Jesuit strength in the world. My family have had many generations of connection with Riverview and as my boys were being educated there, in 2009 I reached out to Greg Conlon, Business Manager at Riverview and asked if I could assist with their sustainability journey. Greg said yes to my offer, when no one else in the local Church would. Riverview was my rock for ten years as we influenced the sustainability journey of many a student, teacher and sister school, among others.
Some of the highlights include holding ten Earth Hour breakfasts that were open to student environment leaders across Sydney. In addition, we went tree planting with a Riverview family who were part of Harden Landcare; we hosted environment conferences; the JCAP Education Conference organised by Jennie Hickey and Sharon McLean, both amazing, strong women in the Jesuit ecosystem; and the NSW Environmental Education conference in 2019.
When that time came to an end in 2019, I was able to move to the Jesuit Province in Australia as part of the JISA leadership team. As national coordinator of the Being with God in Nature ministry, I assist with the eco-justice journey across Jesuit ministries in Australia and with Ecojesuit more broadly. I worked closely with Lawrie Hallinan, the previous chair of the Care for our Common Home team in Australia. This ongoing role has nurtured my sense of connection to Country, our Jesuit community and our Creator.
The Jesuits and lay people across our ministries are my family, my rock, enabling me to be a strong woman of faith in the Church, a voice for the voiceless, as well as an eco-justice warrior.
Banner image: Tatiana Lyubovich, Canva.