Older Women's Network National Conference 2022

Older Women’s Network 26th National Conference

"LISTEN! Older Women's Voices Matter In A Civil Society"

Join us for a lively discussion on the issues that are important to older women. We refuse to be invisible and forgotten! 

Keynote Speaker: Rev Dr Stephanie Dowrick

Followed by two panel discussions, with both panels facilitated by Jane Caro.

Panel 1 and Q&A: Why Older Women's Experience and Perspectives Matter in Policy Design

In a civil society such as ours, where over half of Australians aged 65 and over are older women, why are our voices absent from important debates such as health, housing and economic security?

Our voices are also absent from debates addressing the driven causes of poverty for older women such as caregiving during productive years, the compound effects of gender, injustice in wealth distribution, wage gap, and gender-based violence. The conclusion is very clear - if we don't have participation in these debates, the government and policymakers will continue talking about the problems but tangible actions will not be delivered.

Anne Summers, Professor, UTS Business School

Cathy Mc-Gowan, Former Independent MP for Indi 

Jenny Briscoe-Hough, Founder of Tender

Kathy Eagar, Professor, Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong

Nareen Young, Professor, Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education & Research, UTS

Panel 2 and Q&A : Ageism, Ambition & Authenticity: Women Ageing in the 21st Century

Older women face the accumulated effects of ageism and sexism in several areas of their lives. Gender abuse and discrimination over the lifecycle lead to greater inequalities, vulnerability and poverty in old age. Young, old and everyone in between – Australians of all ages have the right to be treated fairly and to enjoy the same opportunities as others.

Wendy Harmer, Author, Playwright, Broadcaster, Comedian

Dr Virginia Keft (murrawari), Art & Dementia: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curator (MCA), Artist, Researcher.

Natasha Ginnivan, Research Fellow, UNSW School of Psychology

Rosemary Kariuki, Local Hero 2021 (Australian of the Year Awards), Multicultural Liaison Officer, NSW Police

This will be followed by the National and NSW AGM and conference dinner. 

We hope you can share the day with us and work towards better outcomes for older women in Australia.

OWN NSW Team 

(Host of National OWN Conference)