Leadership Communication

Celebrating International Women’s Day: Strength, Faith, and Opportunity

This year, International Women’s Day offers us time to reflect on the contributions of women throughout history and to recognise the importance of fairness and opportunity for all. The 2025 theme, “Accelerate Action,” reminds us that while progress has been made, we must continue working towards a world where every woman and girl has the chance to thrive. 

Throughout history, women’s contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued, particularly when they have stepped outside traditional roles. As Joan Chittister writes, “To be a woman in a society that does not value women as full human beings brings with it the burden of invisibility.” She highlights the struggles of St. Teresa of Ávila, a woman ahead of her time who refused to be silenced. Teresa was a reformer, a visionary, and a leader in a world that did not easily make space for women in such roles. Declared the first female Doctor of the Church in 1970—more than 50 years after her disciple, St. John of the Cross—her legacy is a reminder that women have always been called to shape the Church and the world, even when their voices were ignored.

Women’s impact is not confined to the home or traditional caretaking roles. They have been and are leaders, thinkers, activists, educators, and pioneers—not because it was easy, but because it was necessary. Figures like Catherine McAuley, who revolutionised education, and Dorothy Day, who fought for the dignity of the poor, remind us that faith in action is powerful. As Teresa of Ávila taught, “The purpose of prayer is always good works, good works, good works.”

With women and girls making up nearly half the world’s population, ensuring equal opportunities is not just about fairness—it is about recognising the gifts and potential in every person. International Women’s Day reminds us to honour the contributions of the women before us and to continue working towards a future where no one is held back from becoming who they are called to be.

As a school community, let us take a moment on International Women's Day to reflect on how we support and encourage each other, taking action to ensure that the next generation of women—our students, daughters, and friends—know their voices matter, their dreams are valid, and that their life is filled with limitless opportunity. 

Peta Overbury

Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning