The search is on for 20 Queensland women who are paving the way in their chosen field to feature in a new four-month campaign, ‘Queensland Voices’ with nominations opening today (March 7).
Minister for Women Di Farmer, who made the announcement at the Queensland Women in Business Summit on the Gold Coast, said Queensland Women’s Week was a perfect backdrop to highlight women’s voices in media.
“This new project supports the Queensland Women’s Strategy by making sure people know about the important women who are helping to move Queensland forward,” she said.
“The Queensland Government’s Office for Women is funding social enterprise, Femeconomy to deliver this project, because there are so many amazing women doing great things in Queensland – and we want to hear from them.”
Ms Farmer said the Queensland Voices project will consist of a mini blog and meme series profiling 20 Queensland women across four categories – participation and leadership, economic security, safety, and health and wellbeing.
Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon encouraged women to nominate to showcase the stories of Queensland business.
“Gender equality isn’t simply about what’s fair and right – it’s good business,” she said.
“The research shows that diverse workforces and diverse leaderships increase productivity and profits, and improve workplace culture.
“Importantly, there are just as many talented women out there as there are men – so if you’re not hiring women, you’re missing out on half the talent pool.
“A recent Women in Media report showed women accounted for just 21% of the sources quoted in mainstream media articles in Australia, and the figure dropped to just 13% when it came to business content.”
Femeconomy director and co-founder Jade Collins said the organisation wanted to change that, and was grateful for the Queensland Government’s support in bringing the project to life.
“We want to make sure the voices of Queensland women are heard, and their faces known. History is stacked with invisible women and we all have a role in challenging and changing that,” she said.
