BSL Talks - Women marching forward?

A special edition of BSL Talks ahead of International Women's Day

2025 marks fifty years since the release of the Henderson Commission of Inquiry into Poverty’s first major report, Poverty in Australia.

No women were members of the Inquiry into Poverty when appointed by Prime Minister Billy McMahon in 1972. Nor were there any female members as part of the final report to the Whitlam Government in 1975.

While the Supporting Mothers Benefit was introduced in 1973 to support unmarried and separated mothers not eligible for the Widow’s Pension, it wasn’t until the 1980s when women were considered independent beings and not simply wives, widows or mothers.

So fifty years later, how have things progressed for women in Australia? And what is the relationship between gender and poverty in contemporary Australia?

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, join us for our first edition of BSL Talks as we reflect on progress (and lack of progress) and explore what’ s needed to tackle persistent gender inequality.

Join Dr Dina Bowman, Principal Research Fellow at BSL’s Social Policy and Research Centre in conversation with Emeritus Professor Bettina Cass, Professor Kay Cook, and Farah Farouque, CEO of Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.

Register now for what will be a thought-provoking discussion, along with an audience Q&A. Please note that the webinar will include Closed Captioning. If you require Auslan Interpreting please email bsltalks@bsl.org.au at least one week prior to the event.