This International Women’s Day I was in the office working hard to get the new website up and running. I couldn’t help but enjoy seeing the Tweets I saw from the Australian health industry on the day. They covered everything from looking at gender balance and inequality, celebrating the women in our workforce and those who have recently won awards, women giving thanks to other women, and looked at how women are being represented.

All in all I thought that it was a great way of highlighting the issues women face as well as celebrating what we are capable of. It was far better than taking notice of the comments made by our Prime Minister on the day!
Here’s an overview of what I saw….

Psychiatrist Dr Helen Schultz celebrates both men and women in health care:

#IWD2019 #BeBold
Happy IWD to all us strong, caring and honest women working in medicine to make things better for us, our patients and the system, and for those men and women who support us!

— Helen Schultz (@drHelenschultz) March 7, 2019

The Australian Dental Association highlighted 4 dentists who are taking action towards gender balance in all areas of life:

Delighted to be awarded the @DAA_feed Joan Woodhill Prize for Excellence in Research for my PhD. Thank you Dr Joan Woodhill – pioneering Dietitian – & my superstar female supervisors! @ProfCCollins @MelHutchesson @megan_rollo Prof Robin Callister. #IWD2019 👩🏻🎓 pic.twitter.com/iBd0lz7X1g

— Dr Lisa Vincze (@LisaVincze) March 7, 2019

The Dietitians Association of Australia highlighted the achievement of a female award winning PhD scholar:

Delighted to be awarded the @DAA_feed Joan Woodhill Prize for Excellence in Research for my PhD. Thank you Dr Joan Woodhill – pioneering Dietitian – & my superstar female supervisors! @ProfCCollins @MelHutchesson @megan_rollo Prof Robin Callister. #IWD2019 👩🏻🎓 pic.twitter.com/iBd0lz7X1g

— Dr Lisa Vincze (@LisaVincze) March 7, 2019

Paul McNamara gives thanks to female nurses:

~90% of Nurses are women. So much respect and gratitude for their teaching, support and inspiration. #IWD

— Paul McNamara (@meta4RN) March 7, 2019

Optometry Australia highlighted that almost 55% of Australia’s optometrists are female:

Gender inequity remains a significant challenge in the medical profession #IWD2019 https://t.co/ZKsxECWED6

— AMA Media (@ama_media) March 7, 2019

The Australian Medical Association highlighted gender inequality in STEMM:

Gender inequity remains a significant challenge in the medical profession #IWD2019 https://t.co/ZKsxECWED6

— AMA Media (@ama_media) March 7, 2019

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians was criticised by its use of a stock image on International Women’s Day, but the Australian Physiotherapy Association escaped that same criticism:

Celebrate female trainees by picturing female trainees. This stock photo makes us all wonder if the RACP even knows who it represents.

— Catherine with a C (@shedidwhatnext) March 9, 2019

To mark #IWD2019 today, the APA is urging Australian women to place higher priority on their physical and mental health and wellbeing. #Press #MediaRelease #choosephysio #BalanceforBetter @CathThePhysio https://t.co/0vZ5gLksGu pic.twitter.com/2Fc9LlyPNG

— Aust. Physio Assoc. (@apaphysio) March 7, 2019

Mellissa Naidoo celebrates emergency physician, educator, mentor and mum Dr Alex Markwell:

The always inspiring @almarkwell! #CelebratingWomenDocs #inspiringdoctors #IWD2019 @qldclinsenate @JudkinsSimon @acemonline @ama_qld @MDANational @womenandmed https://t.co/TadR6M1vva

— Mellissa Naidoo (@DrMelNaidoo) March 8, 2019