Stay Over : International Womens Day 2024 - Has Ended

Australia’s Crisis of Older Women Becoming Homeless!

Women over the age of 55 are the fastest growing cohort of homeless Australians. At the rate we’re going, it will take another quarter of a century for us to close the gender pay gap and prevent these rising numbers of homeless women. Women have waited long enough! So come and join us to do something about it. On International Women’s Day 2024, union women will be taking a stand against Australia’s gender pay gap and the rapidly increasing number of women becoming homeless.

Flexible work shifts will help reduce the number of older women becoming homeless

Women are on average paid out a third of the superannuation that men take out. That is, $37,000 versus $110,000. So how can unionists close this superannuation gender pay gap? Women are significantly more likely to take time out of the workforce to care for children and loved ones than men. And in industries like manufacturing, the majority of workplaces do not accommodate for these responsibilities, making it impossible for women to work whilst also being able to pick up kids from school or look after elderly loved ones. But small changes to roster patterns can make a world of difference. For instance, parent-friendly hours between 9am-3pm or split shifts (7am-11am & 11am-3pm) are rare in industries like manufacturing. But these practical shift changes allow women to remain in work and continue to build their superannuation. We also need to make sure we're encouraging male colleagues to also utilize existing workplace flexibilities such as parental leave.

How can you help?

1. Stay Over with us to raise funds and awareness: Register for the stay over and raise a minimum of $150 through sponsors such as your friends, family and colleagues to go towards the non-for-profit organisation, Women’s Housing.

1. Pledge to make a difference in your workplace: Pledge to include “flexible shift patterns” into your next EBA log of claims.
2. Donate to the cause: All funds raised will be donated to Women’s Housing – a non-for-profit organisation that provides low costs housing to women at risk of homelessness in Victoria.

The Stay Over:

We will be staying out at Victorian Trades Hall Council to raise money and awareness for women experiencing homelessness. More specifically, we want to raise awareness about the superannuation gender pay gap and how this is a major driver of increasing numbers of women becoming homeless.

On the night: We’ll kick off with some awareness raising activities, you’ll learn about some of the reasons why women are experiencing homelessness in Australia, how you can help make a difference and what the AMWU's Big Sky project is doing to prevent homelessness. We’ll then finish the night off with some games and a screening of ‘Women of Steel’ (2020). From here, you’ll sleep out and experience a night outside.