Community Services: Celebrating women in community

Women form the majority of staff in the Community Services Industry. Ours is an industry where women are leaders, initiate research into improving care, and carry out thousands of hours of direct care each week in nursing, allied health and care worker roles. Here at KinCare some 90% of our staff are women. Everyday I see the wonderful work these women do balancing family, caring and careers. On International Women’s Day I want to publicly celebrate these talented women, and their achievements in bettering the community.

Community Services

The women who work in the Community Services Industry are integral to providing technical skills and direct assistance to the people we serve. They are vital in building positive relationships that enhance the quality of life for our clients. I also want to acknowledge the women who provide service and support in our offices across four states and territories. Each week I hear and see evidence of women’s commitment and dedication to improving the lives of others. I also know there are so many women working behind the scenes, unrecognised, who are quietly serving others.

Growing up I witnessed first hand the effectiveness of the work of women in the community. I have a wonderful mother who taught me many important things in life – she continues to teach me now! As many of you may know, KinCare was started by my mother, Margaret Howie. Margaret continues to play an important role as the “conscience” of KinCare. She instilled her personal values into the organisational culture of KinCare in its early years, the same values of service and dedication that she imparted to her family. As responsibility for the organisation has passed to me, it is these values that instruct the decisions I make. Her legacy continues to grow with the service that KinCare provides in improving the quality of life of our clients in community services.

It is important to regularly reflect on the contribution of all people in the Community Care Industry, but on International Women’s Day it is especially appropriate to pause and reflect on the women in your life, and the women working in your organisation. 2011 is also notable as it is the centenary of International Women’s Day. For the past 100 years we have been making time during March to reflect on the contribution of women to our world. I encourage you to take some time to remember the power and inspiration women bring in our lives. You can start by visiting the International Women’s Day website.