In 1910 at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen an idea was tabled to hold an International Women's day where every year in every country there should be a celebration to push for the demands of women such as the right to work and vote and to end discrimination. International Women's Day is now celebrated globally each year on 8 March with organisations and governments holding a diverse range of activities and events to inspire and celebration women and their achievements. 

In 2016 the Rotary Club of Monash held their inaugural International Women's Day Business Breakfast at the Waverley Golf Club where we heard from Anna Burke MP (Federal Member of Chisholm and Former Speaker of the House of Representatives), Sarah Wall (Former State Netball Player and Founder of Jeanieboy and NETFIT Netball) and Kathy Kaplan OAM (Founder and President of Impact for Women) who explored and provided tips on overcoming challenges currently facing women. All profits from the 2016 breakfast were donated to Impact for Women, a charity that supports women and families who have experienced family violence.

 

 

In 2017 the Rotary Club of Monash held their second International Women's Day Business Breakfast at the Novotel Glen Waverley where we heard from Jessie Taylor (Human rights barrister and President of Liberty Victoria), Kath McCarthy (Consultant, Facilitator and Executive Coach and Psychologist) and Melissa Lewis (Personal Brand, Image and Empowerment Specialist and Founder of Style Confidante) who explored and provided tips on the topic: Confidence to Create Change. All profits from the 2017 breakfast were donated to Kara House, an organisation that encourages and empowers women to take control of their lives and works towards eradicating all forms of abuse perpetuated against women and children.

 

In 2018 the Rotary Club of Monash held their third International Women's Day Business Breakfast at the Novotel Glen Waverley where we heard from Erica Edmands (Board Member of Women's Housing Ltd, Lawyer and HR Consultant), Jerril Rechter (CEO of VicHealth) and Judy Line (CEO of Women's Housing Ltd) who explored and provided tips on the topic: Press for Progress. All profits from the 2018 breakfast were donated to Women's Housing Ltd, which focuses on human rights, particularly the basic rights of women (and their children) to housing, healthcare, education and employment by providing Initial Assessment and Planning (IAP) services to women experiencing housing crisis, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, or needing assistance to establish a new tenancy. Women's Housing Ltd also provides basic toiletries, train tickets and food.

    

In 2019 the Rotary Club of Monash is held their fourth International Women's Day Business Breakfast at the Novotel Glen Waverley where we heard from The Honourable Justice Zammit (Justice of the Supreme Court), Tal Karp (Olympian, former Matilda, lawyer and now, a co-founder and Director of Sixfold Consulting Group), Molina Asthana (Principal of Swarup Asthana Lawyers and Founder of the organisation Multicultural Women in Sport), Caroline Hart (an armature AFL Footballer with the Caulfield Grammarians Football Club) and Mary Barry (Board Member of Safe Steps Victoria) who explored and provide tips on the topic: Balance for Better. All profits from the 2019 breakfast were donated to Safe Steps Victoria. Safe Steps Victoria Family Violence Response Centre is Victoria’s statewide first response service for women, young people and children experiencing family violence.

 

In 2020 the Rotary Club of Monash is held their fifth International Women's Day Business Breakfast at the Mulgrave Country Club where we heard from Shino Yu (Founder and Principal Consultant, TopNotch Business and Career Solutions), Rhonda McKenzie (CEO and Financial Adviser, Planning for Life), Christina Hobbs (CEO and Co-Founder of Verve Super, Australia's first Superfund for women) and Nhi Tran (Head of Sales, SisterWorks) who explored and provided tips on the topic: Equal for Equal - Salary and Retirement. All profits from the 2020 breakfast were donated to SisterWorks. SisterWorks is a not-for-profit social enterprise, based in Melbourne. Through work and entrepreneurship, their mission is to support women who are refugees, asylum seekers or migrants to improve their confidence, mental well-being and sense of belonging. SisterWorks provides these women with meaningful opportunities to develop pathways of education, employment, entrepreneurship and leadership.

  

2022

In 2022 the Rotary Club of Monash held their sixth International Women's Day Business Breakfast and the first with the Rotary Club of Mount Waverley as a co-organizer. The Breakfast was held again at the Mulgrave Country Club where we heard from Peta Searle OAM (first female coach in the AFL), Dr Tamara Kwarteng (Change Agent - Equality in Healthcare) and Angela Spinney (Board member, Kara Family Violence Service) who addressed the topic #BreaktheBias and explored and provided tips on how we can break gender biases with respect to leadership roles, in the sports industry and with respect to healthcare through real life examples.

All profits from the 2022 breakfast were donated to Kara Family Violence Service for their new crisis accommodation in the City of Monash. 

Kara Family Violence Service is a specialist non-for-profit family violence service providing safe and secure accommodation and outreach services to women and children escaping family violence. They encourage and empower women to take control of their lives and work towards making strategies to create a better future.

 

We make special thanks to our continuing sponsors: Continuing Platinum Financial Sponsor: Scholten Collins McKissock Wealth Management; Continuing Platinum Financial Sponsor: Community Bank Pinewood; Continuing Premium financial sponsor: Mulgrave Country Club; Continuing Premium in-kind Sponsor: House Wine & More.