Whichever campus you are on today I hope you will have a chance to join in the International Women’s Day celebrations. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. More than 1000 childcare workers will walk off the job today to draw attention to the pay gap between male and female-dominated professions. Dozens of childcare centres across Australia will close mid-afternoon to support the national campaign, which is the largest walk-off by early childhood educators.

I invite you to join me (and many other Melbourne women) at the International Women’s Day Melbourne Rally and March at 5:30 at Parliament House.