SI Moreton North
SI Moreton North IWD event, incorporate their Annual IWD Awards be Inspired Forum and also the launch of the Lead-HER-Ship empowering Women’s Mentoring Programme.
6 women were acknowledged and presented with their ” Be Inspired Awards”.
The day also launched – “The Lead-HER-Ship Empowering Women’s Mentoring Programme”, is a collaboration between SIMNI and Women’s Network Australia (WNA).
SI Moreton North, IWD event and Lead-Her-Ship luncheon
View the video of the Awards ceremony
Internationally renowned Aboriginal Artist Cody Bindi Nappangarttii Smith re-purposed this coat with intricate hand-felted images of special places around Australia.
Cody gifted this coat to SIMNI member Chris Knight as the custodian and is a symbol of Soroptimist International Sisterhood, Solidarity and Friendship.
SIMNI and WNA, collectively have an extensive number of outstanding women with great life experiences and professional backgrounds who are willing to support the next generation of business and professional women, women from indigenous and culturally linguistic backgrounds, women living with a disability and refugee and asylum seeker women who are seeking to enhance their skills and careers.
The program will include assisting Mentee’s to find relevant information and advice and to ask professional questions, the session may be beneficial for the Mentee to gain the relevant qualifications and skills needed to pursue their careers.
SI Mackay
SI Mackay partnrned with Better Together Housing team, to create a series of videos, these videos cover conversations where a range of initiatives and questions were answered around the housing crisis for older women in Mackay.
The report by SI Mackay
International Women’s Day event 2023
SI Mackay is always keen to identify local needs in our community, and we often invite guests to our business meeting so we can hear about issues from a different perspective.
Lauren from Better Together Housing was one of our speakers at a meeting last year, and raised our awareness of the growing need for older women specific to homelessness. She gave us some statistics and facts on the growing rate of homelessness, and the cost of housing shortages, especially for women over 55, and how the issue is impacting local women.
We discussed the lack of knowledge about this rising problem for older women, both in our club and among our members, and explored with Lauren, just how to get this information circulated within the community. The purpose of raising awareness was two-fold, firstly to reach out to women where they were at risk of homelessness, but secondly, engaging with women who had additional space in their home due to changes in their circumstances.
SI Mackay members at the University filming the videos
The videos can be viewed from the SI Mackay facebook site,
The launch of the videos at the IWD event
We felt that a series of short videos, could be the best format and that our members were ideal candidates to ask a series of questions in order to extract information from Lauren. And so our next project was borne – to create a short video series that would launch on International Women’s Day, but then be used by both the Better Together Housing team, and SI Mackay as a tool for advocacy and activism. It was a great joint initiative where we explored a range of questions to be answered, and with the support of Central Queensland University, used their library space to film the series.
6 videos are on our website for you to view - https://www.facebook.com/simackaynq and use the search function to find the ‘BTH videos’.
SI South Perth
International Women's Day Event
SI South Perth celebrate #IWD2023. Guest speaker, Suzy Urbaniak was a powerhouse of passion and common sense. Suzy an ANU Earth Sciences alumna who has won the 2016 Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.
Suzy was a dynamic speaker, she even did the splits for us, at the request of a former student! (Context? - you had to be there!) 10 girls from local secondary schools attended, sponsored by member The Hon. Kate Doust, MLC. We heard from Rosemary Cant, President of SIWA, and the Hon. Mia Davies, MLA was inducted as our newest member. We honoured Jean, who has ministered to our culinary needs at the Royal Perth Golf Club for many years, and finally we heard some wonderful acapella singing from some of the ladies from Perth Harmony Chorus
SI Bangsar
International Women's Day Celebrations 2023
SI Bangsar members celebrated IWD in 3 different locations: Malaysia, Japan, and Australia.
On 4 March, ten SI Bangsar members and friends met at the Royal Lake Club at 7am to celebrate IWD with a walk around the Gardens near the Lake Club. Some carried placards on the IWD 2023 campaign theme: #EmbraceEquity with impactful messages, ‘Be a change agent, Be fair, Be impartial, Make your presence felt etc. They walked for an hour and adjourned for breakfast and fellowship at the Lake club poolside.
On 7 March, Sim Chan, Programme Convenor, SI Bangsar, met up with members of Friendship Link club SI Kyoto-Toka in Japan for dinner to celebrate IWD. It marked a significant reunion of SI Kyoto-Toka members with SI Club of Bangsar after more than a decade. In 2005 both clubs collaborated on Janda Baik Goat Rearing project which won the Overall International Best Practice Award.
On 10 March, Indira Naidu, Friendship Link Convenor, joined members of SI Torrens in their IWD Breakfast event in Adelaide, South Australia. She felt it was a great privilege to have had the opportunity to watch the presentation from prominent speakers. Senator Penny Wong, Australian Foreign Minister, was the Host and Convenor of the Adelaide International Women’s Day Breakfast supporting UN Women Australia. She spoke on ‘Cracking the Code, innovation for the gender equal future’. And was proud to announce that currently in the parliament among 103 members 54 are women.
Guest speaker Caroline Kennedy, the US Ambassador to Australia, spoke on connections and values for a healthier world and closing of the gender gap After the event, Indira spent the day with SI Torrens President Sing Ting who assisted a friend with her shopping. They later lunched together and had tea at the President’s idyllic home in the Adelaide Hills.
SI The Hills
International Women’s Day Breakfast - 10th March 2023
As has become the tradition, SI of The Hills District hosted an IWD Breakfast event to conclude the week of celebration and advocacy work. Over one hundred members and guests joined the event at Rydges Norwest and enjoy a morning of fine food and outstanding presentations.
Aarya Sambyal (Castle Hill High School) and Mia Fogolin (Our Lady of Mercy College) spoke brilliantly and with passion. Aarya shared a poem from her HSC English Extension 1 portfolio entitled Who is She? and spoke passionately about how her mother was her inspiration. Mia presented on the topic of refugees and challenged the audience to question both the myths and realities associated with people who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and who are looking to find safety in Australia.
Our Keynote speaker, Rosanna Barbero the CEO of Addison Road Community Centre raised our awareness on how the increased cost of living has made food security a real issue for an increasing number of people across many communities. Guests to the event were encouraged to donate a food staple and large collection of food staples were packed up to support the vital work of The Addi Road Food Pantry.
Julia West, Rosanna Barbero, Aarya Sambyal, Mia Fogolin, Mayor Dr Peter Gangemi
The SI of The Hills District Members Shot
The Addi Road Organisation played a supportive role in the evacuation of fifteen Afghanistan girls who were being chased by the Taliban, after the allied forces departed the country in 2021. Rosanna spoke of her organisation’s role in raising awareness of the girls’ struggles and introduced her colleague Julia West to the stage. Julia spoke of the support that Barker College has given to one of the Afghanistan girls and she also explained the Humanitarian Support Program that she has established for after-school tutoring at the College.
Our club had the opportunity to celebrate the support that it was able to provide to one of the Afghanistan girls via an educational scholarship in 2022. In addition, the club excitedly announced the formation of a SI School Club in 2023 at Barker College, that will support Julia’s Humanitarian Support Program.
The morning was a great success. People left well fed, more informed and many with impressive raffle prizes.
Rosanna Barbero & some of the staples
Whistleblower Reporting
Soroptimist Internatioanl South East Asia Pacific Whistleblower Policy (Policy) is an important element in detecting corrupt, illegal or other undesirable conduct.
At SISEAP our people are our greatest asset and, as such, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where our people can be confident, transparent and safe. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical behaviour and conduct at all times.
SISEAP strongly encourages you to speak up if you suspect or witness any matters of concern. SISEAP will take all reports made under this Policy seriously. This Policy describes the protections available to whistleblowers, what matters are reportable, how you can report your concerns without fear of Detriment, and how SISEAP will support and protect you.
Policy
SISEAP have developed a Whistleblower policy and a process.
Please download and read the policy document, (Insert link to policy document)
Who is an eligible whistleblower
An eligible whistleblower can be:
- a current or former employee of the company
- a current or former position holder of the company
- a contractor, consultant or service provider (current or former) who has supplied goods and services to the company
- a volunteer (current or former) who has supplied goods and services to the company, or
- a spouse, relative or dependent of any of the people listed above
How to Report
There are two ways to report:
Option 1 Form via Website
To report the complaint please click on the whistleblower link
You will be redirected to a google form to complete and submit. This form will be emailed directly to the Whistleblower Protection Officer (WPO). On receipt of the form the WPO will remove the complainant's email address (if requested) before directing it to the Whistleblower Investigation Officer(WIO).
Option 2 Via Mail to Registered Office
To make a complaint, write a letter with details of the concern to the Registered Office of SISEAP.
SISEAP Whistleblower Protection Officer
C/ LNP Audit and Assurance
L14 309 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000
An individual may remain anonymous throughout this process; however, this may make it more difficult to investigate the issue which has been raised.
Associate Term of Reference
Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific limited by guarantee (SISEAP)
Terms and Conditions for an Associate of Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific
1. Introduction
1.1 Associates will be expected to promote the Vision, Mission, Objects and Values of Soroptimist International and Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific (SISEAP)
1.2 SISEAP is a not for profit service organisation whose mission is to transform the lives and status of women and girls.
1.3 Prior to becoming an Associate, you will be required to agree to the Terms and Conditions of an Associate of Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific. Once Associate Status is granted, these terms and conditions will form a binding contract between the Associate and Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific.
2. These terms and conditions are supplemental and subject to the company bylaws of SISEAP as amended from time to time.
3. Definitions
3.1 “Laws’ means any common law of Australia or statute or statutory instrument enacted by the Australian Parliament and shall be extended as far as the Associate is concerned (but not SISEAP) to include the laws of the country in which the Associate is resident or domiciled.
3.2 “The Logo’ means the Soroptimist Emblem and any other branding introduced by SISEAP or Soroptimist International from time to time.
3.3 “The Organisation’ means SISEAP and its member Clubs, National Associations, Networks and Countries.
3.4 “Soroptimist International" means the world-wide Soroptimist movement constituted as a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with company number 08670477 and its member Federations including SISEAP.
3.5 SISEAP ” means Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific (SISEAP), a company limited by guarantee registered in Australia company ACN: 147 990 627, whose registered office is situated at G1/11A Lachlan St WATERLOO NSW 2017 AUSTRALIA
4. General
4.1 Associates of SISEAP warrant that they will not deliberately, or negligently contravene any Laws or take part in any illegal activity.
4.2 An Associate of SISEAP agrees not to use or alter the Logo, SISEAP documentation or any other intellectual property belonging to SISEAP for any purpose other than those specifically authorised by SISEAP. Unauthorised use may result in the association with SISEAP being revoked by SISEAP and may also constitute a civil or criminal offence. The Logo is a registered trademark and SI reserves the right to take legal action against any individual who misuses the Logo.
4.3 An Associate of SISEAP will endeavour to comply with The Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and will not share or sell details to third parties or external organisations.
4.4 Associates of SISEAP will notify SISEAP of any changes to their personal data held by SISEAP , so that SISEAP records are always kept up to date and accurate.
5. Voting Rights/Holding Office
5.1 An Associate of SISEAP is not entitled to vote at any level within the Organisation.
6. Cancellation of Association
6.1 Associates of SISEAP may withdraw or cancel their Association with SISEAP at any time by contacting SISEAP’s registered office but shall not be entitled to any refund of fees or subscriptions paid in these circumstances.
6.2 Associates of SISEAP accept that Association may be cancelled or access to Associate services (if any) suspended by SISEAP without notice for unreasonable use or abuse of any such Associate services.
7. Fees
7.1 An annual Associate fee is payable by or in respect of each Associate and must be paid on the anniversary date of their payment.
7.2 Renewal of Association is not automatic and is entirely at the discretion of SISEAP.
7.3 Annual Associate fees are non-refundable.
7.4 Gifted Associate status is valid for 12 months from the time of registration.
7.5 The annual fee will be notified on the SISEAP website on or before 1 November.
7.6 Termination/Suspension of an Associate
7.7 SISEAP reserves the right to revoke an Associate’s status at any time with immediate effect at their absolute discretion.
7.7.1 should there be a significant breach in these terms and conditions of an Associate by the Associate concerned including a failure to uphold the objects of Soroptimist International or engaging in any activity or conduct which reflects adversely on the Organisation;
7.7.2 where an Associate has failed to pay her Associate subscription fee one month after it is due.
7.8 If an Associate’s status is revoked, SISEAP will provide the Associate with a written explanation of the reason for its action.
7.9 An Associate who has received notice of revocation of their Association shall have the right (within 30 days of receipt of such notice) to appeal in writing to the Management Committee of SISEAP for reconsideration of the matter by them, which reconsideration shall take place at the Management Committee meeting next after receipt of such appeal by SISEAP and the decision of the Management Committee shall then be final.
7.10 On revocation of Association Status for any reason, permission to use the SI Logo or advocacy statements or any other SISEAP documentation is revoked with immediate effect.
8. Amendments
8.1 SISEAP reserves the right to alter or amend these terms and conditions at its discretion. Any changes will be notified to Associates as soon as is reasonably practicable and published on the SISEAP website. Amendments will not apply retrospectively.
9. Applicable Law
9.1 The law of Australia applies to these terms and conditions and the contract between the Associate and SISEAP, referred to in Clause 1.3.
UN Days
Soroptimists can usiltise International days to promote the work we do as Soroptimists, organising events or advocacy around a UN day will capitalise on educating the general public on our work to address the issues and problems raised by UN aroud the topic it also allows for Soroptimists to celebrate the work they have achieved in meeting the SDG goals.
The Full Calendar of UN days with links can be found HERE.
August
1-7 August - World Breastfeeding Week
12 August - International Youth Day
19 August - World Humanitarian Day
September
5 September - International Day of Charity
7 September - International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 September - International Literacy Day
18 September - International Equal Pay Day
29 September - International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction
