The start of every year brings about a flurry of wanting change, new resolutions, new goals and new ideas.

As a union we are no stranger to this concept and want to be better, bigger and to fight harder.

Each year brings about new changes within the union and its operations. Just take our recent inclusion of podcasts, which have been popular with our listeners as a way to hone in on key current issues and union priorities.

Another change in 2024 going forward will be eligibility criteria around who can join our committees.

You would have noticed in the Getting Organised booklet that there will be changes within our committee structures.

The following committees are for members who identify as such:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee
• LGBTIQ+ Committee
• Women’s Committee

These committees are for members who represent their respective sectors:

• Early Childhood Educators Committee
• New Educators Committee
• School Leaders Committee
• TAFE Committee

As a union we have had many allies support the work of our committee, particularly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Committee and LGBTIQ+ Committee, and we want to thank members for their commitment, solidarity and hard work.

We know that as a union it is about time that we harness this change and the only way we can be better is to prioritise the voices of those who identify or represent their specific sectors.

We encourage our members to join in where applicable.

International Women’s Day 2024

On Friday 8 March there will be key events across WA to support women in the many roles that they fulfill and really look at what changes need to be made.

This year’s theme of Count Her In: Invest in Women, will focus on the need for economic inclusion and empowerment for women and girls.

Gender equality is goal five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted by all UN member states in 2015.

Unfortunately, current trends indicate that the goal of reaching gender equality by 2030 is becoming an increasingly distant goal.

UN Women recently highlighted that one of the key issues challenging the goal of gender equality by 2030 was the “alarming lack of financing with a staggering USD 360 billion annual deficit in spending on gender-equality measures.”

What is even more concerning, is the lack of progress for women and girls across all 17 SDGs. The infographic on the opposite page gives more information on this situation.

The Count Her In theme will be prioritised in March at the United Nations 68th Commission on the Status of Women where “accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

Further details of this event will be available via our social media channels.