Individuals and organisations around Australia are working to challenge and change women’s role in society by pushing for systems changes and helping to empower women at all levels to take their place in all parts of Australian society. Since the Australian honours system was introduced in 1975, a great number of deserving Australians have been recognised and rewarded, yet women remain under-represented in the number of nominations, flowing through to the number of people receiving honours.
Public awards such as those conferred through the Australian Honours system can assist in bringing about the cultural, unconscious bias shift that is required to achieve due recognition and leadership equality. The awards recognise extraordinary contribution, not executive title or remuneration. The ranks of awardees ought to include an equal number of women today. Our honours system has been uniquely designed to ensure that any member of the community can nominate an Australian citizen for an award. To find out how to nominate a great woman that you know for an award, read the guide Advancing Women: Women and the Order of Australia.
