Celebrating International Women's Day 2025
March 8th is International Women's Day, a tribute to the movement for women's political, economic and social rights. This year's theme is poignant, for all women and girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment. It's an opportunity to look at the history of movements, often led by women to secure so many rights. In 2025, let's push aside the cupcake, and take a look at some of Australia's great movements for women's safety and equality.
Faith Bandler, Pearl Gibbs and the campaign for Aboriginal civil rights
Friends, campaigners, advocates, and leaders.
Faith Bandler and Pearl Gibbs fought tirelessly for Indigenous rights. Together, they formed the Aboriginal-Australian Fellowship to end discrimination against First Peoples. In 1957, they launched a petition and began a ten-year campaign to remove the discriminatory clauses from the Australian Constitution. They succeeded, with an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote in the 1967 federal referendum.
A skillful networker and talented public speaker, Pearl was instrumental in forming many Aboriginal organisations. As one fellow activist reflected, "She persisted in every way she knew. She wrote to the papers, she spoke out, she interviewed people, she worried people, she annoyed people, she became a damned nuisance. She persisted and still persisted."
The work of Faith and Pearl continues in the many advocates and organisations campaigning for safety, equality and respect for First Peoples.
The women’s refuge movement
Access to safe housing remains a critical challenge in Australia’s crisis of family violence. But decades ago, women facing violence had even fewer choices. They were often discouraged from working and remained financially dependent on their partners, leaving them with nowhere to go.
Grassroots feminist organising changed this. In 1974 Sydney, activists broke into empty buildings, changed the locks, turned on the gas and water, and claimed squatters' rights to launch 'Elsie,' Australia’s first women’s refuge. Around the same time, women in Melbourne's eastern suburbs united to take control of community houses, creating ‘safe houses’ for women and children escaping violence.
These were the first refuges for family violence. Women and their children seeking shelter shared bedrooms with multiple families. They were staffed by small groups of women working voluntarily, with decisions and chores often shared as a collective.
In 2025 there is still so much work to be done to ensure access to safe housing. But because of the refuge movement and the ongoing advocacy of victim-survivors and activists, the idea that someone escaping violence should have a safe place to go is no longer a radical one.
Ellen Young, 'The Poetess of Ballarat'
Born in England in 1810, Ellen Young moved to Ballarat with her husband in 1854 to join the Victorian goldrush. At a time when women’s voices were almost non-existent in the public sphere, Ellen used poetry to raise awareness about the poor living conditions faced by people living on the goldfields.
Her poetry was fierce and political. Ellen wrote about the right to a good life and democracy for working people, highlighting the injustice that would fuel the Eureka Rebellion. Clare Wright’s book The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka honors the unyielding women of Ballarat, writing their contributions back into history.
The spirit of speaking out and collective action that defined Ellen’s time still burns bright in Ballarat. Following a devastating period of gender-based violence in 2024, the community rallied together calling for action. In response the Victorian Government announced the Ballarat Community Saturation Model, an Australian-first initiative with the community to prevent gendered violence.
The migrant women workers movement
The 1970s and 1980s saw a surge in the participation of migrant women from non-English speaking backgrounds in the Australian labour force, many in the manufacturing industry.
Systemic sexism and racism meant they often faced dangerous working conditions, including sexual harassment – an issue that persists today. In response, migrant women organised ‘speakouts’ in cities across the country to draw attention to the issues they faced, giving birth to a new labour movement in Australia.
In 1978, a small team of women from different cultural backgrounds established the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health in Melbourne. Together they met with migrant women working in clothing factories to discuss family planning, health and safety issues.
Migrant and refugee women continue to form an integral part of Australia’s labour force, and continue to organise to make their voices heard in decision-making processes.
Women’s Cultural Palace and LGBTIQA+ liberation
For many LGBTIQA+ people, public spaces aren't always safe. Having places to freely express identity and meet with others have always been important parts of the movement for queer liberation.
On Moor Street, Fitzroy, the Women's Cultural Palace was one of several liberation centres that served as the beating heart of lesbian and feminist organising in Melbourne. The Palace was a meeting place for women to socialise, share information, hold discussions, and organise politically. It was an opportunity to learn from each other and develop networks to advance both the women’s movement and gay rights.
The impact of liberation centres like the Women’s Cultural Palace was integral to the progress towards safety and equality for LGBTIQA+ people. And today, those gathering spaces are very much out and proud.
Join the movement today
International Women’s Day is a reminder of how women and their allies before us organised to create change – and that we can do the same.
The landscape looks different in 2025 but the formula remains the same: grassroots organising, mobilising community, activating allies and advocating for change.
The Pearl Gibbs method: persist, persist, persist.
You can be part of this movement too. This International Women’s Day, subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular information and actions you can take to help prevent violence against women.
By joining our community and sharing our messages, you can be a part of making change for women to be safe, equal, and respected.