The Australia Awards Alumni in Vanuatu came together to attend a Gender Equality and Disability Social Inclusion (GEDSI) workshop at the Grand Hotel. The Australian facilitators of the workshop, Glenn Davies and Joanne Webber, are GEDSI advisors who spoke about the challenges faced within the workforce, particularly by women and people with disabilities.
Glenn Davies presented on gender analysis, gender relations and equality versus equity. ‘We need to identify the needs that men and women have to ensure that they both have equal opportunity to participate in their working environment,’ he said. ‘Measures must be available to address and redress factors that contribute to inequality.’
Joanne Webber presented on the importance of creating a society and working environment that is disability-friendly. She noted that not having equipment such as ramps, audible signs and accessible buildings were barriers to including people with disability in our work spaces, and that ‘everyone should be advocates for social inclusion and equity.’
The workshop concluded with discussions on ways to implement plans and policies for social inclusion in the alumni’s different sectors of employment. One alumna said, ‘The workshop was useful as it made me more aware of the social issues that we are unconscious of. The discussions helped me to critically think of how we can assist with inclusion at all levels within our society and especially our workplaces.’
This workshop is one of the monthly events organised by Australia Awards Vanuatu to strengthen its alumni network to continue to share ideas, access new knowledge and develop skills.
If you have studied in Australia or in the region through an Australia Awards Scholarship or Fellowship, you are welcome to join this network of change makers.
For more information, please browse Australia Awards Vanuatu website or contact us here.
About Australia Awards
Australia has provided development assistance to Vanuatu for many years. Scholarships provide opportunities for Ni-Vanuatu to study in Australia or the Pacific region. Australia Awards scholarships address human capacity needs in Vanuatu and build people-to-people links.