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10/07/2020
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2020 BWC Grant Recipient Announcement

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A huge thank you to all the 2020 BWC Grant Applicants.

The BWC Grants Sub-Committee reviewed all applications against the Guidelines.

The BWC Board is very excited to announce the recipient of the 2020 BWC Grant is:

 

 

GOOD SAMARITAN HOUSING for their

MENTORING AND EMPOWERING VULNERABLE MOTHERS PROGRAM

The 2020 BWC Grant will provide vulnerable women and children living in transitional crisis accommodation with opportunities to build living skills helping them transition to independent living in the community. Providing a stable home is vital, and is the first building block on the path to empowerment. The women will learn new skills in health and wellbeing, parenting, education and money management through intensive case management, workshops and excursions. The program aims to increase self-esteem, confidence and awareness of rights. The Grants Sub-Committee felt that the project aligned well with the BWC vision as it aims to break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage and learned behaviours which may have led to their homelessness, enabling them to participate equally in society.

 

 

A high-level summary of the applications received:

  • All Applications sought the full grant support of $5,000.
  • Total project costs ranged from 25% of grant funds to 100% required to deliver the project.
  • Fifty per cent of the applications had secured funding from other sources.
  • Applications received targeted a wide range of groups, including mothers of autistic children, disadvantaged women, women with cancer, women who are homeless, disenfranchised women, victims of domestic violence, female researchers and scientists, migrant women, unemployed women and female artists.
  • Proposed projects were for a range of support and services including mentoring, counselling, education, leadership, financial literacy, skills building, self-care, health-related services, and provision of ‘essential’ or ‘critical’ goods.

 

BWC thanks everyone for the quality of their application and the generous work you contribute to supporting women and girls in Queensland.  There were many worthy causes and worthwhile programs making the selection of this year’s recipient a challenge for the BWC Grants Sub-Committee and the BWC Board.

 

BWC also thanks those members who generously volunteered their time to participate in the Grants Sub-Committee, as well as other members who offered to assist but that we could not accommodate on this occasion. It was heartening to have so many of members want to contribute to this important part of BWC.

 

BWC will share more information about Good Samaritan Housing and its Mentoring and Empowering Vulnerable Mothers Program in the near future.

26/11/2019
0

BWC is recruiting Board Members

By | News, Uncategorized

BWC is a company limited by guarantee comprised of volunteer board members.

We are looking to nominate and elect a new board members at our AGM in February 2020.

To supplement and compliment the existing board members skills we are primarily looking to elect board members with skills in event management, digital marketing and communications and social media and or the development of an online virtual community.

We are open to discuss other areas and how they contribute to the existing board skillset.

All Board members are required to be familiar with ASIC and ACNC director obligations and the structure of a company limited by guarantee.

Organisation: Brisbane Women’s Club
Organisation Type: Charity/NFP
Coverage: QLD
Position Title: Board Member / Non Executive Director
Duration of Appointment: 3 years
Remuneration: Unpaid (expenses not covered)
Industry / Sector: NGO / NFP / Other Charitable
Skills Sought: Transformation / Growth, Communications, Governance, Diversity & Inclusion, Digital Marketing / Social Media
Closing Date: Extended until Friday 6 December 2019

 

About The Organisation

The Brisbane Women’s Club (BWC) is a centre for Brisbane and Queensland women to exercise progressive leadership around issues of public importance for women, to support projects and organisations aimed at improving the lives of women, and to mentor and guide younger women to achieve equal participation in the social, cultural, political and economic arenas of Australian life. BWC aims to bring together a diverse group of professional women in Brisbane and South East Queensland.

Being a part of BWC provide an opportunity to actively get involved in activities and events which have benefits for women and which are of great interest to BWC members, to extend professional and personal networks with like-minded women, and to be part of an organisation that speaks out on behalf of women.

We are a not for profit and all proceeds from our events go to charities operating in this space in Brisbane and Queensland, or as part of our ongoing grants program.

 

Selection Criteria

1) Previous governance experience (board, committee, association etc) or the ability to demonstrate how your skills can be applied.
2) Understanding of corporate and legal structures, in particular corporate governance requirements.
2) Appreciation of the not for profit space and ASIC/ACNC requirements for directors.
3) Commitment to be a leader in the field of gender equality, women’s issues and leadership.
4) Ability to contribute to financial oversight of the company.
5) Developed communication skills including the ability to present board papers, assess risk and articulate opinions in a professional manner.
6) Time and ability to contribute to board meetings, BWC operational and planning matters and attendance at majority of BWC events in any one year, including taking an active role in some of our working committees. BWC relies upon its volunteer board to drive activities and events and to engage members.
7) Willingness to join BWC as a member for term of director appointment (3 years).

 

How To Apply

Email secretary@bwc.org.au an introductory letter explaining why you want to become a BWC Chair, your high level CV and statement addressing the Selection Criteria in no more than 5 pages.

Applications should be addressed to: Leah Stangle at secretary@bwc.org.au

27/09/2019
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Mentors Needed | WOW Australia Event

By | News, Uncategorized

We are so thrilled to be apart of the upcoming WOW Australia Brisbane event as part of International Day of the Girl Child.

We will be helping to put together a team of 100 WOW (Women of the World) Mentors from all walks of life, for a unique speed mentoring session to take place the Wheel of Brisbane on Friday 11th October and we would love you to join us!!

To highlight the UN theme for 2019, GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable, WOW Australia has invited young women, years 10 and 11 to participate in a day of activities at QPAC and the Wheel of Brisbane at South Bank.

BWC MEMBERS, THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN….

The speed-mentoring sessions will take place on the Wheel of Brisbane. As a Mentor you will have the opportunity to meet with 4 young women to support and offer guidance in relation to any challenges or issues they are grappling with.

No specialist experience is required, only life experience, enthusiasm and an interest in developing young women.

 

WHEN: Friday 11 October 2018

TIME: 2 Sessions available.

11am – 1.30pm OR 12.45 – 3pm

WHERE: QPAC and the Wheel of Brisbane

RSVP BY: Tuesday 2 October

 

So if you are available and ready to empower and impact the lives of our young Brisbane women, please get involved as a volunteer directly with WOW at www.wowaustralia.com.au/contact

Also, BWC members we will be having a coffee at the ABC Champ Kitchen and Bar at 10am before the mentoring sessions 🙂

 

02/07/2018
0

On changing the world….

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“Last week, I was delighted to have the opportunity to mentor a truly wonderful Year 10 student, Mollie. Mollie shadowed me for a few days and rolled her sleeves up to complete a couple of tasks, asking plenty of questions and immersing herself in all things Brisbane Women’s Club. I asked Mollie why she chose BWC as the organisation that she wanted to work with to complete her work experience time with. Here is what she wrote (unedited) and I thought it something to share with you. The next generation is ready to be involved in bettering the lives of women and are already thinking about many of the gender based issues that they are seeing, though not necessarily experiencing. Their enthusiasm fills my heart.”    Laura Bos, General Manager Brisbane Women’s Club.

“Everyone can recount a time where they heard the word ‘feminist’ with a more negative than positive connotation. This is usually from the uncomfortable uncle, comical sitcom character or more often for me – teenagers. The climbing rate of adolescents opposing the prospect of feminism is evident, in our interest in social issues.

As a teenage girl that’s not exactly quiet about interest in political views, I am incessantly apprised by boys that I should be in the kitchen making them a sandwich, or that I’m only as competent and intelligent as a dishwasher. Most people who are aware do not knowledge it. Yet they see, hear and feel these injustices the same way I do. They continue with their lives, sometimes out of convenience, sometimes out of ignorance and sometimes out of simple lack of understanding.

I constantly ask myself how we could possibly teach this generation that the current systematic oppression is not something to joke about simply to get a rise out of a someone, or earn a laugh from your group of momentary friends.

Walking the halls of a high school in 2018 you must expect to overhear talk of derogatory memes, recordings of assaults and chauvinistic remarks labelled as ‘jokes.’ As a teenager that opposes all these activities I’ve found it difficult to find like-minded people. This has resulted in a bit of alienation, but a lot of time to read about the issues that directly and indirectly affect us all. I had read about a multitude of organisations, but nothing struck a chord like Brisbane Women’s Club. The Club’s emphasis on the importance of relationships between women where they can openly discuss a diverse range of issues of public importance was especially heartening. After my 3-day Work Experience with the Club’s General Manager Laura Bos, I noticed an improvement in my way of thinking and her mentorship helped me further understand the practices, and importance, of these organisations.

As a female coming into the workplace, the prominence of the gender wage gap has caught my interest. It’s a topic that derives from the preconceived idea inherited by most- that it is simply because men are better workers then women. Even in high school, this idea is evident just watching treatment of teenagers in the classroom. The Club’s focus on this inequality and continuous proposals of possible solutions is proof of its’ efforts to end gender imbalance. The Club is working hard to educate and empower young women. As a part of the Club’s work, they’ve affiliated themselves with other women-friendly organisations. Their relationship with The University of Queensland’s Women’s College especially sparked my interest.

On my second day, I accompanied Laura to a fundraising lunch at the college. I had the pleasure of meeting many upstanding people including Dr Lyndall Bryant and Professor Fred D’Agostino. Heeding their advice and hearing the alumni tell stories of their experience and education at UQ opened my eyes to the copious opportunities I’m fortunate enough to have. After this experience, looking at the prospect of a career in social justice doesn’t seem so daunting.

Brisbane Women’s Club has been creating change for Brisbane Women for over 110 years, as the next generation I look forward to continuing their work not only in Queensland, but throughout the world.”

Mollie Doyle-Brooks x