Tomorrow is March 8, which means people everywhere will be saluting the power of women across the globe at International Women's Day events.
In Australia, there are many events happening to celebrate the achievements of women, as well as protest the inequalities that women across the globe still face.
Whether you're in the mood to be inspired and educated, protest and march, or have fun and celebrate - there are events happening all across Australia that cater for exactly what you want your IWD 2018 to look like.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame are holding a buffet breakfast and #PressForProgress presentation celebrating the achievements of women from Central Australia, with speakers including CEO of the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council, Andrea Mason.
The protest rally for International Women's Day 2018 in Darwin will take place on Saturday March 10. Participants are asked to gather at State Square from 9am, for a 9:30am start, with the march ending at Parliament House, and entertainment provided to celebrate the contributions of local and international women.
The Northern Institute are holding a Morning Tea to celebrate the achievements of, and hear the stories of women in the Northern Territory.
As well as listening to speeches from NT Administrator Her Hon Vicki O’Halloran and The Hon Lauren Moss MLA, guests will also meet the women who received NT Australians of the Year awards: Dr Bo Remendyi (NT Australian of the year) and Kathy (Gotha) Guthadjaka (NT Senior Australian of the year).
The event will also include a panel discussion ‘Paid work & Parenting: Policy Matters’ - a gold coin donation cupcake fundraiser will also be held, with funds going towards purchasing breastpumps for mothers who are returning to work.
TASMANIA
A no-cost, fun IWD option, the Health and Wellbeing Festival offers more than 30 market stalls that feature the local community. Stalls include health and wellbeing stores, food tasting and cooking tips, arts and crafts and gardening stands.
Presented by Housing Choices Tasmania, people of all ages and genders are welcomed.
Held at Hobart's Function and Conference Centre, the Women in Focus fundraising and community initiative event will feature speakers such as CSIRO's Director of National Collections and Marine Infrastructure Toni Moate, and Stornoway GM Camille O’Meara.
The event, organised by Commbank, will focus on the achievements of local women as well as discuss the work that is yet to be done to achieve gender equality.
A special women-only night of comedy at Frank's Cider Bar and Cafe in Franklin, the IWD FunnieS night is hosted by Rachel Berger, and will feature Tassie comedians Helen Shield, Chloe Black, Alissa Clare, Tori Hodgman and Ashlee Cairns.
Local Government Association of Tasmania, LG Professionals Tasmania and Australian Local Government Women's Association (ALGWA) are hosting the inaugural IWD Breakfast Forum, which will feature The Hon. Pam Allen as lead speaker.
In addition to speakers talking on women's local and global achievements, the 'WOMENCAN' Campaign will also be launched at the breakfast.
NEW SOUTH WALES
This year's theme for NAIDOC is 'Because of her, we can', so this IWD event at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Redfern will honour this theme, and celebrate the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women across family, community and society.
Guest speakers include Sydney University Indigenous strategy lecturer Dr Lynette Riley, also a Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman and Gumbayngirr woman, Hazel Vale, who will share her insights into working in her home community of Armidale to create positive social change and better outcomes for Indigenous people.
Funds from the event will go toward providing educational opportunities for Indigenous youth, young people and in Batiba Guwiyal projects.
Taking place on Saturday March 10, the Sydney IWD Protest rally and march will see people meeting at Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park, and marching down Castlereagh Street to Belmore Park in the name of equality for all women.
Organised by Unions NSW, the theme for the march is 'Stop the Silence! End the Violence! In the workplace, campus and home.'
The official artwork from the march was created by Wiradjuri woman, Charlotte Allingham, which you can see via below.
A part of the UN Women's national IWD events, this breakfast is hosted by celebrated TV journalist, author, and face of Australia's #MeToo movement Tracey Spicer.
The UN Women's theme is 'Leave No Woman Behind', and focuses on the the vital role that women play in humanitarian and disaster planning and response, as well as rebuilding, rehabilitation and peace processes.
The fundraising event looks to celebrate the success of women past and present, as well as discuss the actions needed to continue the fight for gender equality.
Celebrate IWD 2018 by heading to the MCA and learning about all the women and femme-identifying artists whose art adorn the gallery walls.
The event will feature 'bite-size talks, a panel discussion on gender bias in the arts and a hands-on workshop', so there'll be plenty to keep you entertained. Plus, it's free!
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
An evening of canapes, drinks, speakers, the 'A Better World for Women' event at University House at ANU is a business-focussed event for those who want to network.
The night will also mark the launch of Soroptimist International ACT and Monaro Grant titled 'A Better World for Women'.
The UN Women National Committee (NC)'s Canberra Lunch, happening at the Canberra National Convention Centre, will feature Tracey Spicer as MC, and Hiba Qasas, Chief of Crisis Prevention, Preparedness and Response for UN Women in Geneva, as a panellist.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Part of the UN Women's nation-wide IWD events, this event is MC'd by Elizabeth Shaw at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Created by Muslim Aid Australia, the seeks to empower the future of 1000 women in developing countries around the world by providing each beneficiary with an impactful and sustainable method to overcome poverty.
The project will be launched in conjuction with IWD 2018, at this brunch event on March 11 in Perth.
A live music gig and panel event combined, Sass the Patriarchy will debut in Perth at Four5Nine at the Rosemount Hotel in order to promote positive action, the creation of opportunity for women, and a chance to show support for women in the music industry.
The event will see Victoria's This Way North and guests acts will each play a set, with a special guest host leading discussions with the artists and audience about the past, present and bright future of women in the music industry.
Additionally, a raffle will be held to raise funds for the International Women’s Development Agency.
The Hon Simone McGurk MLA and four guests speakers will present a #PressForProgress presentation to celebrate 80 years since the first International Women's Day in Western Australia.
This year's guest speakers are Dr Michelle Johnston (Writer), Professor Arlene Chan (Breast Cancer Specialist), Dr Sue Gordon AM (Legal Professional), and Ms Emma Boogaerdt (Activist).
The professions of the 2018 panel reflects the original International Women's Day group that met in 1938: Dr Roberta Jull spoke with Katharine Susannah Prichard (nee Throssell) author; Mary ‘Molly’ Kingston (nee Connor), lawyer; and Irene Greenwood, broadcaster and activist.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide's protest rally and march for International Women's Day will be held March 8 at 5:30pm, beginning at Hindmarsh Square in the CBD.
Speakers include Latoya Aroha Rule, Sharon Jennings & Neha Madhok, and the event page reiterates that the IWD march is inclusive of all women, femme, and non-binary identities: "Non-binary, gender fluid and trans folk as it is for cis-women."
Girls to the Front is a two-day masterclass for women aged 14 to 18 years, who are interested in the music industry.
Presented by Music SA, the mastercass will "guide 25 young girls through all facets of the industry through live performance, basic home recording techniques, songwriting, music business and understanding music career pathways" during the April school holidays.
An evening of music, fringe theatre and IWD celebrations, Celebrating Sisterhood is being held at the Mischief & Mayhem Food/Art/Wine bar in Glenelg.
The night will feature Mary McCloud (and her original song written for International Women's Day), and more music from Australian actor Karla Hillam.
VICTORIA
If you're someone who loves a debate, then this is probably the IWD event for you.
Moderated and MC'd by Jane Caro, the Melbourne 'Great Debate' will present a series of debates 'for' and 'against' women-focussed issues, over a long lunch.
The event site reads: "This old school, long-lunch style debate sees six hand-picked, interesting and opinionated Australian leaders debating ‘The future is female’. Equality. Diversity. Progress, in two teams (the negative and the affirmative), our equally interesting and witty MC, Jane Caro, who will be on hand to keep things clean, on-topic and, of course, to stop too much fur flying".
Melbourne's IWD 2018 rally to protest gender inequality promotes itself as an inclusive, and intersectional event, calling for (in addition to gender equality), economic justice and a liveable income for all women, the right to unionise, the destigmatisation of sex workers, compensation for women's unpaid labour, free and accessible healthcare, housing and education, justice for First Nations Peoples, reproductive justice, sexual liberation, transgender rights, disability rights, an end to racism and violence against women, and a stop to environmental destruction.
Participants in the rally are asked to meet at the State Library on Swanston Street at 5:30pm on March 8.
This live music event at The Curtin features an all-woman, non-binary, and trans-femme lineup that includes Miss Blanks, Rainbow Chan, SIMONA, Magnets, and more.
Representing the woman and femme community of the music industry, the event proudly promotes the tagline, "WE ARE INCREDIBLE. STRONG. FIERCE. DIVERSE. CREATIVE. TALENTED. RESILIENT. AND DESERVE OUR PLACE IN MUSIC."
Profits will be donated to Girls Rock Melbourne, which support the future of young woman and non-binary artists breaking into the music industry.
The Refugee Women in Small Business event, held by the ASRC Entrepreneurs Program and Unbound, is a free panel event that showcases the stories unique to refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.
The panel of inspiring women includes Founder and Creative Director of SketchMill Bic Walker, Twich Women's Sewing Collective representative Afadang (Affy) Akuey, and SisterWorks Incorporated CEO Luz Restrepo.
QUEENSLAND
The Brisbane International Women's Day March will "celebrate our achievements, [and] reflect on what is still to be done to build women's liberation".
The rally will feature a long list of speakers and entertainers, and participants are asked to meet at Emma Miller Place, Roma Street in Brisbane at 1pm.
The League of Extraordinary Women IWD panel event at Newstead Studios features a lineup of young female success stories: Soak Society founder Natalie Thorogood, Mayde Tea founder Kate Dalton, artist and founder of her namesake label Rachel Burke, and The Great State founder Ellen Newman.
A inspirational event for those hoping to create their own business, the panel will be providing tips and tricks on managing a business and taking the time to celebrate successes.
Celebrating IWD 2018 eve on Wednesday the 7th, this event promises a lineup of local women comedians and musicians, including Hope D, Jamie-Lee Griffiths, Hallie Tait, Anniephylaxis, Brooke Austen, Indigo Vandenberg, Bridget Anne Brandolini and Sophie Banister.
Your cost for this all-femme evening is just a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going Women's House, a shelter in Woolloongabba for women escaping domestic violence and abuse.
