Business Professional Women Coffs Coast says gender equality remains an issue, despite progress in some areas. The group points to an ABC Four Corners investigation published on 18 October, in which more than 100 women described job losses, reduced hours and unfair treatment linked to pregnancy or having a child. The group will host a panel discussion titled "The Equality Conversation: Women, Feminism and What Comes Next" under the theme "Equality in 2026: Where Are We Now?" The group has also asked any woman who has faced such discrimination to get in touch.
Women working in New South Wales local government have been honoured at a ceremony at Parliament House. Ministers Ron Hoenig and Jodie Harrison hosted the Ministers' Awards for Women in Local Government. The awards drew a record 188 nominations, two-thirds from rural and regional councils. Winners include frontline staff, senior executives, councillors and mayors from councils across the state. The ministers said they hope the awards will encourage more people to pursue careers in local government.
Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West has released the first Respect 2040 Regional Report Card, tracking gender equality efforts across workplaces, councils, education, health, sport and community groups. The inaugural report, covering July 2025 to June 2026, draws on contributions from 23 organisations. Chief executive Jodie Hill said it shows where action is happening and where greater focus is needed, describing it as a starting point. Fifteen community groups and sporting clubs completed active bystander training or violence prevention programs.
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Advocates for women in politics say a brutal attack on federal MP Helen Haines on Monday, which has left her fighting for her life, has frightened them but did not surprise them. Women for Election chief executive Licia Heath linked the attack to misogyny and said nine elected women she had spoken to were scared. A study released in August found 89 per cent of Australian women in office had experienced online abuse or intimidation linked to their political roles. Independent Victorian upper house candidate Aleta Moriarty said she has received thousands of threats, including rape and death threats.
The first regional report card documenting action on gender equality and violence prevention has been released. It covers Barwon South West's Respect 2040 initiative.
More than 100 women told Four Corners they experienced discrimination at work after becoming pregnant or having children. Former Department of Home Affairs executive Alisha Warner says her request to return on compressed hours was rejected. The department said it could not approve the arrangement because the role now needed full-time senior oversight. Warner took a voluntary redundancy and refused to sign a confidentiality agreement. Former Border Force official Kylie Rendina said losing experienced staff can cost more than retaining them.
Experts say online manosphere communities promote narrow ideas of masculinity that oppose feminism and gender equality. Psychologist Zac Seidler says young men are often drawn in by loneliness, a lack of purpose and worries about the future. Developmental paediatrician Billy Garvey advises starting with curiosity, because lecturing young people can push them away. Warning signs include new language, relying on a few influencers and rising grievance against women.
Only 13.2 per cent of Australian workplaces have designed management roles that can be done part-time, according to new research. The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre analysed data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. It found women are promoted at higher rates than men across middle management, but are less likely to reach the top. Researchers say employers should measure how many senior roles are genuinely flexible, not just how many have flexible policies.
Experts say the manosphere is not a passing wave, with clinical psychologist Zac Seidler saying online misogyny is being fuelled by tech platforms. Developmental paediatrician Billy Garvey advises parents to start conversations with children in low-pressure settings where they feel safe. Our Watch's Genevieve Sheppard says the manosphere harms boys and men by insisting there is only one way to be a man. The experts also answered questions on neurodivergent boys and how to respond to manosphere views in public.
Women are being promoted at higher rates than men at several points in the pipeline, but that advantage disappears at the most senior levels, according to new analysis from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre. The research found only 13.2 per cent of employers design management roles that can be done part-time. Researchers say flexible senior roles could help more women reach the top. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women face some of the widest gaps between the flexibility they want and the flexibility they receive, a separate report found.
A Sydney retail worker's experience highlights the challenges faced by parents seeking workplace flexibility. Loreto Valenzuela missed her daughter's school assembly due to inflexible work arrangements, leading her to switch to casual employment and forfeit benefits. A new report, based on a survey of 6,000 Australian workers, introduces the concepts of 'good flex' and 'bad flex' to distinguish between beneficial and harmful flexible work arrangements. The study reveals that women, particularly in health, education, retail, and care sectors, often encounter 'bad flex', with limited options for adjusting hours within strict on-site roles.
