Dear Friends,

Advocating for greater investment in women and girls, and educating to ensure that their needs and circumstances are central to philanthropic practice, has never been more important.

We know that without specific and intentional action, challenges for the most vulnerable in society will be compounded by disasters. A gender lens is crucial to understanding and addressing the increased vulnerabilities for women such as employment insecurity, increased domestic violence, the additional burden of domestic and caring responsibilities and, for many now, the management of home-schooling.

While governments are providing unprecedented support, the multiple challenges we are facing following the recent bushfire disaster and current COVID-19 crisis will require all of us to make sure every philanthropic dollar is strategically directed for maximum impact. To help achieve this we are currently developing new resources and updating existing fact sheets to support effective, gender-wise philanthropy and corporate giving.

While events calendars everywhere are necessarily sparse, we are taking an active role in meetings of civil society leaders on various digital platforms. We are working hard to ensure that those providing funding, as well as those responsible for delivering initiatives in the community, are mindful of the impact the current situation has on women and that their needs are addressed.

As well as encouraging a gender-wise approach we commend the guidance Philanthropy Australia has recently provided to its members in responding to COVID-19 which you can read here.

We send our best wishes to each of you and your families for the upcoming Easter break, and a Happy Passover to our friends in the Jewish community. For those interested in guidance for conducting a virtual Seder, please email Tracie Olcha asap at tracie@ajf.org.au to join a special webinar at 11am Wednesday, April 1st.

FAIR AGENDA - Domestic Violence and COVID-19

You can read Fair Agenda's analysis of the government's weekend package here.

It is well known that the incidence of domestic violence rises during emergency and disaster situations and the current COVID-19 crisis is even more significant given that it follows on from the recent bushfires and necessarily limits individual movement through the requirement to stay home. Recognising this, Fair Agenda is campaigning for governments to ensure services that women rely on are funded to meet demand.

You may have seen the announcement from the government which has been welcomed as a positive first step; but still far short of what is needed for women's safety at this time.

Sign up to Fair Agenda and support their campaign here.

-ONLINE SHOWCASE SPOTLIGHT-

As always we encourage funders to consider our Online Project Showcase when seeking to have impact. We have curated a bank of projects supporting women and girls covering all social issues, locally and internationally. Whether your passion is education, the arts, safety from violence, medical research or the environment, inter alia, we can suggest a project to drive impact and advance gender equality by investing in women and girls. We're spotlighting a few examples below and there are plenty more to explore here.

Improving maternal-child health outcomes for women and babies experiencing disadvantage.

Birth for Human Kind's Doula Support Program provides individual pregnancy, birth and postnatal support for women experiencing social and financial disadvantage and now more than ever needs support to continue this vital work.

Their volunteer doulas (birth support professionals) provide practical, emotional and social support to help women feel less isolated and better prepared for birth and early parenting. The presence of a doula is linked to improved birthing outcomes and maternal health indicators. This continuity of support is especially important during times of heightened fear and anxiety.

In light of the recent COVID-19 crisis they are taking steps to protect everyone involved:
"We will continue to deliver our services as normally as circumstances allow, to ensure that vulnerable women are not further disadvantaged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Where necessary, we are altering our services to online contact to ensure that women are not further isolated. We do so in full support of the social distancing measures and precautionary protocols that are being put in place to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19."

You can find more information about their specific needs here.

-NEWS AND RESEARCH-

Measure for Measure: Gender Equality in Australia by Per Capita

In March, Per Capita released a comprehensive and forensically researched report on the status of gender quality in Australia.

From the executive summary:
"The World Economic Forum has, since 2006, produced an annual report to measure the global gender gap. The Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) collects gendered data across four thematic areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.

Australia has dropped from a ranking of 15th in the world when the GGGI commenced to 44th in 2020 – a decline of 29 places in just 14 years."

Working from home makes division of domestic labour more visible

With Australian women consistently doing more domestic labour than their male partners. Leah Ruppanner, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Melbourne specialising in family and gender dynamics, suggests that whilst couples are working from home together this is a good time to reassess their roles. Read more.

-READ/WATCH/LISTEN-

A podcast of one's own, by Julia Gillard, featuring Penny Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt on women in the military.

The first woman to be UK Defence Secretary and former Women and Equalities Minister, Penny Mordaunt MP, features on the latest episode of A Podcast of One’s Own. She talks to Julia about why women in the military are a gamechanger and how the world's challenges can be tackled by empowering women.

REMEMBERING FORMER VICTORIAN PREMIER JOHN CAIN
- Mary Crooks AO, Victorian Women’s Trust

For those who missed the live broadcast of former Victorian Premier John Cain’s Memorial last month, I encourage you to take a moment to read the eulogy delivered by Mary Crooks AO, Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust, at the service. It serves not only as a beautiful tribute to a fine leader, but an important note in the public record of achievements for women in Victoria. You can read the transcript here.

OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER PASSES THE BATON

After 15 months of service with the Australian Women Donors Network, our wonderful Operations Manager, Nicole Robertson, has accepted a role created with US education-based tech start-up, CAMPUS, and will take up her new position on Monday. While we are sad to lose Nicole and her many skills, this is a great opportunity for her and we give sincere thanks and wish her well. Nicole leaves the Operations of the Network in great shape with highly efficient and reliable systems in place.

We are extremely fortunate to have secured the services of the very talented Joyce Teo who will take over the Operations Manager role for the interim. Joyce is a much loved and respected member of the Community of Giving and comes to us from Operations Manager roles with her most recent organisations, Opportunity Child and Ten20 Foundation. We warmly welcome Joyce to the team.

If you missed our Annual Report for 2019 you can view the report on our activities and impact here.

CONSIDERING SUPPORTING THE
AUSTRALIAN WOMEN DONORS NETWORK?

Donations to the Australian Women Donors Network of $2 or more are fully tax deductible. If you are interested in supporting our work, please contact us at info@womendonors.org.au to hear more about the impact your funding could amplify and accelerate.

WITH SINCERE THANKS TO OUR PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORTERS AND SPONSORS

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