Now in its fifth year, the Lismore Women’s Festival explores and celebrates ideas, especially from local women.
The annual event coincides with International Women’s Day, March 8, and acknowledges the issues that currently affect women.
The YWCA Australia, a leading intersectional feminist organisation focused on improving gender equality for women, young women and girls, is coordinating the festival.
For 140 years, YWCA has challenged systems, structures and policies, to allow women and young women to be empowered.
The festival will commence with a forum of Aboriginal women discussing the complexities of being leaders, while staying close to country and culture.
YWCA festival organiser Emma Newman all are welcome to come and hear leading local women, discuss ideas, challenge concepts, dance, heal, and laugh.
The festival has held a yearly open forum on what Feminism means: in 2021 it is led by provocative feminist, Lavender and Deb Woodbridge, featuring ex-Mayor Jenny Dowell and Maddy Braddon.
Your own money personality
A fun workshop on understanding your own money personality will be presented by Lismore and District Financial Counselling.
Women aged 55+ are the largest growing group of homeless people in Australia, highlighting the importance of addressing women, finances, and independence issues. Women retire with on average 47 per cent less superannuation than men. This gap has exacerbated the already existing and continuing gender pay gap of 14 per cent.
Women’s pain management, transgender women and mothers
Other drawcards feature discussions around women’s pain management; transgender Women, sharing their personal stories with an aim to find areas of common ground; mothers share ideas on parenting;
yoga with Sam Voolstra; sound healing with Siri Shakti; Stomping, shouting and dancing with Zoe Xanadu; women’s circle with Yemaya Centre. Lismore City Council offers a formal luncheon for International Women’s Day, plus a specific workshop on what is involved in becoming a Councillor
You can bring a small plant, flower or cutting to offer our installation or write your intentions for the festival.
Expressions of interest for Volunteers are welcome, please to call Emma on 0490 437 376 to get involved.
Check out the program NOW, attached or www.ywca.org.au/lismore-womens-festival or the Lismore Women’s Festival Facebook page.
The festival will be at Lismore City Hall from Friday the March 5 to Monday March 8.
