The Coodanup Girls Academy celebrated International Women's Day on March 8 with a special morning tea and a selection of inspiring guest speakers.
With Girls Academy students, Coodanup staff, aunties, sisters, nanas and mothers all attending, the event was dedicated to celebrating all the inspiring women in the students' lives.
The girls performed a song ‘Scars to your Beautiful’ before a panel of strong women including former and current students and Academy staff shared their life journey with the audience.
With the theme of this year's International Women's Day 'Balance for Better', the event focused on brainstorming new ways to advance gender equality and empowerment of women, especially in the fields of social protection, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure.
Hailing from Broome, Girls Academy graduate Cazarh Augustine spoke along with Girls Academy senior manager Des Delcoure.
International Women’s Day is a great way to reflect on how far we have come and how long we still have to go to achieve gender equality.
- Coodanup Girls Academy program manager Nicole Rendell
Year 8 student Chloe Hart said IWD was a time for "respecting all the wonderful women in my life and thanking them for what they do for me”.
"The Coodanup Girls Academy is like my family and the staff always support me through my education,” she said.
Her peer Shonikquah Ugle agreed, adding that the day was for “celebrating all the inspiring women in the community and my life”.
"Girls Academy supports me through my high school years and it’s my family at school,” she said.
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Coodanup Girls Academy program manager Nicole Rendell said it was important to acknowledge all the special within the College community.
"International Women’s Day is a great way to reflect on how far we have come and how long we still have to go to achieve gender equality," she said.
"As an employee of Girls Academy, I am lucky enough to be engaged with so many amazing and inspiring women.
"This event is special to me personally because not only do we celebrate the special women in the community, we also celebrate how incredible the young leaders are within the Girls Academy."
With a fitting slogan for celebrating all the potential of Girls Academy students, 'Develop a girl, change a community', the program is dedicated to closing the gap in education and helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls realize their potential and become the community leaders of the future.
