Earlier this week the National Council of Women of Australia was proud to bring together members, delegates and guests from across the country, both in person and online for our Midterm Conference 2026 in Canberra held at Old Parliament House.

The conference was officially opened by the Hon Senator Katy Gallagher, whose address set the tone for two days of thoughtful discussion, collaboration and a shared commitment to advancing the lives of women across Australia.

Our program featured an exceptional group of speakers and panellists who shared their expertise and inspired meaningful conversations on issues including advocacy, multicultural voices in women’s leadership, preventing violence against women, coercive control, the development of policy and resolutions, and the power of collective action. Members also had the opportunity to participate in workshops designed to strengthen our advocacy and continue shaping NCWA’s future direction.

The conference also reflected on the findings of NCWA’s recent national Gender Equality Priorities Survey, which reaffirmed members’ strong commitment to addressing gender-based violence, advancing economic equality and security, and educating young people about gender equality and respectful relationships as foundations for lasting change.

We extend our sincere thanks to our presenters, including Dr Penelope Mathew, Malini Raj, Dr Sanjugta Vas Dev, Patty Kinnersly, Dr Naomi Pfitzner, Associate Professor Bridget Harris, Rachael Burkitt, Prue Mooney and Suzanne Howarth, for sharing their knowledge, experience and passion. Your generosity enriched every discussion and challenged us all to continue striving for positive change.

Thank you also to our constituent councils, delegates, volunteers and organising committee. Your commitment, collaboration and willingness to share ideas are what make NCWA such a strong and enduring voice for women.

As we return to our communities across Australia, we do so with renewed purpose, stronger connections and a shared commitment to ensuring that advocacy continues to create meaningful change for women, their families and the communities in which they live.

Together, we are stronger.

CLICK TO VIEW THE GALLERY HERE

NCWA Supports Joint Statement on Proposed Changes to the Sex Discrimination Act

The National Council of Women of Australia (NCWA) has joined nineteen other women’s organisations, advocacy groups and community coalitions in expressing concern about the proposed Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sex-based Rights) Bill 2026 currently before the Australian Parliament.

The proposed Bill seeks to amend the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 by changing a number of key definitions relating to sex, gender identity and related protections. Supporters argue the amendments are necessary to clarify rights and access to single-sex spaces, while opponents believe the changes risk weakening long-standing protections against discrimination.

As an organisation committed to advancing the rights, safety, wellbeing and equality of women and girls, NCWA is concerned that any changes to Australia’s primary anti-discrimination legislation should strengthen protections rather than create uncertainty or reduce access to those protections.

The coalition statement argues that the current Sex Discrimination Act recognises that discrimination against women is often based on assumptions, stereotypes and social expectations rather than purely biological characteristics. It raises concerns that narrowing definitions within the Act could have unintended consequences for women who do not conform to traditional expectations of appearance, behaviour or identity.

NCWA believes that public policy affecting women’s rights must be carefully considered, evidence-based and developed through meaningful consultation. At a time when many women continue to face challenges relating to economic security, gender-based violence, representation, health outcomes and workforce participation, our focus remains on ensuring that legal protections are robust, inclusive and effective.

The coalition of organisations supporting the joint statement includes national women’s advocacy bodies, legal services, health organisations, rural and regional women’s groups, disability advocates and multicultural women’s organisations, reflecting the breadth of concern being expressed across the women’s sector.

NCWA supports the call for the Bill to be allowed to lapse and to develop a comprehensive, integrated human rights Act in Australia.

Read the full joint media release: National Foundation for Australian Women Media Release

The Midterm Conference of the National Council of Women of Australia marks a significant point within our triennium—a time to reconnect, reflect, and reaffirm our shared purpose.

Bringing together members from across the nation this gathering provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and shape the collective advocacy agenda for the years ahead. As a volunteer-led organisation, our strength lies not only in our work, but in the fellowship and camaraderie that sustain it.

Open to all NCW members, Constituent Councils, affiliated organisations and supporters.

When: Sunday 28th June and Monday 29th June 2026

Venue: Museum of Democracy, Old Parliament House, Canberra

Conference Registration cost: • Member NCWA: $225 • Non-Members: $260

CLICK HERE TO BOOKING LINK 

Program:

Day 1: Sunday afternoon will feature presentations from Constituent Councils and the NCWA Executive, including discussion of the outcomes of the membership survey. Evening: For those who wish to attend a conference dinner will be organised at an additional cost. Details to follow.

Day 2: Monday morning will see advocacy resolutions discussed and voted on. Later in the afternoon, we will explore the work of our affiliate members and issues central to NCWA’s core priorities. ncwa.org.au

Speakers Include

Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher will open the conference.

NCWA partners with the Women in Leadership Summit 2026

We’re excited to partner with the Women in Leadership Summit, taking place on 1-3 September 2026 across 5 cities in Australia.

Delivered in national partnership with UN Women Australia, this year’s theme is Leading with Momentum – because leadership today demands more than resilience; it requires the ability to transform ideas into action and build influence in complex environments.

Our President, Fiona Dorman, will be chairing the Adelaide summit – joining a standout national line-up of 120+ speakers including Celeste Barber, Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM, Ellen Fanning (ABC), and Alexia Hilbertidou (GirlBoss NZ).

Forget the “one-off” event and instead engage in a structured learning journey, from pre-summit strategy labs and interactive onsite workshops to post-event accountability webinars.

Your attendance also contributes to UN Women’s economic empowerment and leadership programs for women across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Use code NCWA100 save $100 off registration.

Learn more – https://australia.womenleadersummit.com/

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN HABITAT REPORT

By Wendy Rainbird, April 2026.

Safety of shelter during wars and conflicts.

Many of us are seeing the distressing images of people’s homes being destroyed due to wars and conflicts. When safe shelter is lost, women and girls are put in very vulnerable situations.

Prior to the  recent conflicts and missiles or drones’ strikes, there have been people displaced from where they live. We have seen images of huddled groups of women and children sitting on the ground, in places like Sudan. Missiles and drones are still, as of April 2026, displacing people from their homes in the Ukraine. UNHCR estimates that as of December 2024, 8.8 million people had been forcibly displaced. Over 5 million as refugees in other countries, and at least 3.6 million internally displaced in Ukraine. ((Ref UNHCR

Even prior to early 2026 conflicts and wars, “Forced displacement reached a record 123.2 million people worldwide in 2024, driven by conflict, persecution, human rights violations, and instability, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The agency’s Global Trends report highlights the rise in displacement, with Sudan now facing the world’s largest displacement crisis due to escalating violence.”

Other impacted countries include Venezuela, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Haiti — each facing complex emergencies that have uprooted millions of lives. (ref worldvision.org “Forced to flee.”)

World Vision’s new report Out in the Cold examines how this trend will likely impact three of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises as displaced female-headed households from or within Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan will seek to cope with the harsh climate conditions of winter.

The study finds that the rising costs of commodities and winter essentials puts displaced female-headed households at greater risk than other vulnerable groups because of the social stigmas they face, and because help is often out of reach…Female-headed households disproportionately struggle to cope with harsh winter conditions.

( https://www.worldvision.org/about-us/media-center/mental-health-of-women-forced-to-flee-ukraine-syria-and-afghanistan-is-set-to-deteriorate-this-winter-world-vision-warns)

The report found that female-headed households attempt to cope with poverty in the winter months by reducing food consumption, taking on dangerous debt burdens, sending their underage children to work, and selling their underage daughters into marriage or sex work. As temperatures hit life-threatening lows, female heads of household are also forced to make the choice between heating their homes and buying food — or else putting their health and their family’s health at risk by using last-resort heating methods. A situation can have detrimental impacts on their mental health.(https://www.worldvision.org/about-us/media-center/mental-health-of-women-forced-to-flee-ukraine-syria-and-afghanistan-is-set-to-deteriorate-this-winter-world-vision-warns)

When we see news reports of 1.2 million people displaced out of a population of 5 million, as in Lebanon, such displacement is shocking.

The international Council of Women should add its important voice to the Unted Nations, reiterating the Secretary-General: ”International law, including international humanitarian law, must be respected at all times. Civilians and civilian objects must be protected at all times, and attacks directed against them are unacceptable.” (UN Geneva).

More details to follow.

Any questions, please contact: 

NCWA Secretary
Email: info@ncwa.org.au

Media Release: National Council of Women Australia International Women’s Day 2026 – Balance the Scales

The National Council of Women of Australia (NCWA) stands firmly with the United Nations’ 2026 theme, “Balance the Scales.”

For 130 years, National Councils of Women across Australia have worked to represent the voices of Australian women to identify barriers and advocate for legal and policy reforms to all levels of government.

Whilst progress has been made, NCWA recognises that even modernised economies fail to secure all rights needed for women’s full economic and social participation. As highlighted in the World Bank’s “Women, Business and the Law 2026” report, less than 5% of women globally have near-full legal equality and persistent barriers including safety, childcare, and entrepreneurial support result in under-representation and lower participation of women in global economies. NCWA’s work aligns with these realities.

President Fiona Dorman said, “Balancing the Scales means removing legal barriers and unlocking levers for economic growth, improving systems to support women to access education, technology, healthcare and employment.”

In these times of rising conflict and instability, climate change and disaster and the rolling-back of hard-won rights, women and girls bear lasting effects. That’s why the advocacy work of NCWA continues to push for balancing the scales. Our work spanning human rights to sustainable development, communication, social issues to well-being, will continue to advocate on behalf of all women.

We call on all Australians: lend your voice. It’s never been more crucial to join your state or territory’s National Council of Women. Visit ncwa.org.au and help balance the scales for a fairer, more secure future for all.

 Fiona Dorman

President  – National Council of Women Australia

READ MORE

Joint Statement from Australia’s Peak Women’s Organisations

As Leaders and National Presidents of BPW Australia (Business and Professional Women Australia), the National Council of Women Australia, Soroptimist International Australia, and Zonta Australia, the peak women’s organisations in Australia with a long history of advocacy for women’s rights and human rights, we write together at a time of profound national grief.

As organisations committed to human rights, peace, and the wellbeing of women and girls, we unequivocally condemn this violence and reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, compassion, and community safety for all.

Gillian Lewis, President of BPW Australia, said violence motivated by hate has no place in Australia.
“Leadership at times like this means standing together to protect human rights, dignity, and the safety of every community,” she said.

In the wake of the most devastating terrorist attack of the 21st century in Australia, people of all cultures and faiths are coming together to mourn. We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Jewish communities across Australia, acknowledging the profound distress caused by the horrific terrorist attack on Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi on 14 December.

Fiona Dorman, President of the National Council of Women Australia, said the tragedy underscored a shared responsibility across society.
“Our hearts are with Australia’s Jewish communities. This moment reminds us of the responsibility we all share to reject division and to actively foster understanding, empathy, and respect,” she said.

We stand in solidarity with all communities who are hurting and reaffirm our shared commitment to dignity, safety, and mutual respect.

Australians are mourning the loss of innocent lives and reflecting on the devastating impact this violence has had on individuals, families, and communities. This tragedy has deeply shaken our nation and caused immense pain to those directly affected, as well as to Australia as a whole. There should be no place in Australia for hatred or violence directed at Jewish communities, or at any community.

Terry Maunsell, President of Soroptimist International Australia, said history showed the importance of collective leadership.
“Australia is strongest when leaders act together in moments of crisis. This is a time for unity, compassion, and decisive action to ensure all communities feel safe,” she said.

We are deeply shocked and saddened by the violent attack targeting those attending a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach. This moment calls for unity, empathy, and care. We call on our leaders to work together in unity for the sake of all Australians.

Across the country, Australians are demanding more for and from their nation: to remember lives lost, to recognise acts of bravery, and to call for reflection and positive action from those in positions of power.

Bridget Mather, Chair of Zonta Australia, said women’s organisations had a critical role to play in moments such as this.
“Women’s organisations have a vital role in calling out hatred and strengthening social cohesion. We must confront antisemitism and all forms of racism while reaffirming our commitment to inclusion, peace, and community safety,” she said.

This is a time for national leadership – including from politicians and community leaders at all levels – to actively promote unity. It is not a time for divisive or politicised commentary, but for fostering understanding, empathy, and community, and for taking appropriate national action.

As women’s organisations, we recognise the vital role civil society plays in fostering compassion, promoting human rights, and supporting communities in times of crisis. We advocate for and celebrate equity, diversity, respect, and inclusion for all.

In honouring those whose lives were lost, we reaffirm our shared commitment to building a safe, inclusive, and respectful Australia. Australia must actively reject racism in all its forms, with an urgent focus on addressing antisemitism, while also recognising the importance of confronting islamophobia, fascism, and discrimination against migrants and First Nations peoples – particularly where it involves threats, hatred, or violence.

Australians remember that following the Port Arthur massacre, Australians came together and our political leaders worked as one to provide solace, strength, and hope. Australia needs that same unity to happen again – Now!

We thank leaders who have already stood up and called for unity, and we call on all Australians to contribute to a culture of respect and care, so that our nation may heal and move forward together.

Signed,

Gillian Lewis
President, BPW Australia

Fiona Dorman
President, National Council of Women Australia

Terry Maunsell
President, Soroptimist International Australia

Bridget Mather
President, Zonta Australia