This event is at capacity, however, Brazen Hussies is now screening in select cinemas across Australia. Find out more >

If you are having trouble accessing the film or panel talk, contact our team: events@vwt.org.au

Film Screening: anytime from 9am Wed 17 Nov (film link has been emailed to attendees)
Panel talk: 7:30pm on Zoom (Zoom link will also be sent via email)

We're thrilled to invite you to a screening of feature documentary, Brazen Hussies (2020), celebrating the legacy of the bold women of the Women’s Liberation Movement who re-ignited the feminist revolution in Australia.

Following the film we will be joined on Zoom for an insightful discussion about the blockers to gender equality that still exist today, the failure of the Coalition's 2020 budget to address the needs of women and gender diverse people, and what we can all do to keep agitating for social change.

Panel includes Brazen Hussies director Catherine Dwyer; Dr. Emma Fulu (executive director, the Equality Institute); and Christina Hobbs (CEO, Verve Super); moderated by Mary Crooks AO (executive director, Victorian Women's Trust).

Note: panel talk will be Auslan interpreted.

BRAZEN HUSSIES | DURATION: 93 MINUTES

Brazen Hussies reveals a revolutionary chapter in Australian history, the Women's Liberation Movement (1965 -1975). Interweaving freshly uncovered archival footage, personal photographs, memorabilia and lively personal accounts from activists, Brazen Hussies shows us how a daring and diverse group of women joined forces to defy the status quo, demand equality and create profound social change - contributing to one of the greatest social movements of the 20th Century.

PANELISTS

Catherine Dwyer
director and writer

First time Director, Catherine Dwyer, was inspired to make a film about the history of the Women’s Movement in Australia through her experience working as Associate Producer – Post Production, Researcher and Assistant Editor on Mary Dore’s acclaimed documentary She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry (2014) - the story of the US Women’s Liberation Movement. She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Boston Independent Film Festival and the Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival 2015; was a finalist in the People’s Choice Award at 2015 MIFF; and won Best Documentary at the Hamburg Queer Film Festival 2015.

Catherine was the Impact Producer on Freedom Stories (dir. Steven Thomas 2016), a documentary that explores the achievements of former ‘boat people’ now living in Australia. Catherine has also directed and edited music videos and shorts, including for comedian Kirsten Law’s live shows, Party for a Living (2011) and Man Academy (2015) and edited singer Laura Jean’s Girls on the TV (2018).

Dr. Emma Fulu
executive director, the Equality Institute

Dr Emma Fulu is a feminist activist, social entrepreneur and one of the world’s leading experts on violence against women. She has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is the founder and Executive Director of the Equality Institute, a global feminist agency working to advance gender equality and end violence against women and girls. She is also the co-founder of VOICE, a non-profit organisation that partners with women and girls in conflict and disaster settings to amplify their solutions to violence in their own communities. Before that she worked at the United Nations and led the ground-breaking UN Multi-Country Study on Men and Violence, the findings of which have been featured on BBC, Al Jazeera, and CNN.

Emma is Co-Chair of the Gender and Rights Advisory Panel of the World Health Organization, and a member of the Global Women’s Institute Leadership Council. She has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, is the author of Domestic Violence in Asia, and publishes widely on gender, violence, masculinities and feminist leadership. The mother of three young children, Emma lives in Melbourne Australia and is currently writing a memoir (that never seems to end).

Christina Hobbs
CEO Verve Super

As CEO and Co-Founder of Verve, Australia’s first superannuation fund for women, Christina Hobbs gets out of bed each day with the mission of building the financial power of women. She’s passionate about ethical investment, impact investment and ensuring that capital is used to help build a better world.

Prior to founding Verve, Christina enjoyed ten years working for the United Nations in complex humanitarian emergencies. Her role with the UN focused on advising humanitarian organisations, governments and the private sector on how to connect the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world to the financial services system, often to provide life saving assistance and livelihood support.

Mary Crooks AO (moderator)
executive director, Victorian Women's Trust

After an extensive public policy career, Mary became the executive director of the Victorian Women’s Trust in 1996. She has designed and led ground-breaking community engagement initiatives, such as the Purple Sage Project and Our Watermark Australia. In June 2012, Mary was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, for her distinguished services to public policy and advocacy for the advancement of women. In 2016, Mary won the Public Policy category as part of the AFR/Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence for her years of work in shaping public policy in Australia.