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Balance for Better: Social workers call for action on gender inequality

Announcement posted by Australian Association of Social Workers 08 Mar 2019

The 2019 theme of International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter, with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) calling for action on gender inequality.

AASW National President Christine Craik said gender equality is vital to health and future of our nation, and to the work of social workers.

Ms Craik said, “We need to recognise that when women are disadvantaged, we are all poorer.

“Social workers feel the effects of gender inequality both professionally and personally.  Professionally, we strive to address the effects of gender inequality with the people and communities we work with at an individual and a systems level. 

“Personally, social work is also a female dominated profession.  It is a highly skilled occupation which can often carry elements of risk in practice.  However, like many other female dominated professions, social work is often not paid at the rate of similar male dominated professions, nor does it come with the status of male dominated professions that carry the same risks and the same (or often lower) qualification levels.  Social workers well understand the need to Balance for Better.

“Australia’s report card for gender equality is not looking good.  More women than ever before are being incarcerated around Australia for crimes of poverty and through living lives influenced by trauma, family violence and sexual abuse. 

“There is an alarming increase in homelessness for women and children as a result of family violence and for women over the age of 55, many of whom find themselves with little in the way of superannuation or savings, due to their years of unpaid and uncounted work of caring and child-rearing.  Government policies such as the Centrelink automated debt recovery scheme, robodebt, and the ParentsNext program are punitive, deficit-based and are contributing to increasing numbers of women and children living in poverty. 

“If we are to Balance for Better this International Women’s Day, then we must address the root causes of inequality and the misogynistic and discriminatory policies which devalue and fail women.  If these are not addressed, then the inequitable situation we currently have will continue to enable the unacceptable rates of family violence, sexual violence, poverty, and homelessness that we see now.

“This starts with recognising women as equals and that the work women do is of equal value to that of men, whether it is paid or unpaid.  It means recognising that women need to be in positions of power, including on boards and in government. 

“Then we will truly be able to Balance for Better.”
 
Christine Craik is available for interview.