On International Women’s Day 2026, we celebrate progress.
We must also confront an uncomfortable truth: not all women experience equality in the same way.
For women with disability and women in aged care, gender inequality is compounded by ableism, ageism and systemic barriers that continue to limit autonomy, safety and voice.
In Australia, the late Stella Young powerfully challenged society’s views on disability. She rejected narratives that reduced people to objects of inspiration and instead demanded recognition of rights, leadership and agency.
Her advocacy remains deeply relevant today, particularly for women with disability whose voices are too often spoken about rather than listened to.
Women with disability are disproportionately impacted by violence, underemployment and exclusion from decision-making. Older women, particularly those in residential aged care, can experience invisibility at a time when dignity, consent and autonomy matter most.
Gender does not disappear with age. Nor does the right to self-determination.
At the NGO Training Centre, we believe that quality workforce education is one of the most practical levers for change.
If staff understand consent in the context of cognitive decline, they better protect autonomy.
If leaders understand gendered violence risk factors, they respond earlier and more effectively.
If organisations embed person-centred care and trauma-informed practice, women are safer.
Training alone does not solve inequality. But capability shapes culture. And culture shapes outcomes.
International Women’s Day must be more than a symbolic gesture or another tokenistic post. It must challenge the disability and aged care sectors to examine whether our systems truly uphold the rights of women, or whether convenience, compliance and outdated assumptions still influence practice.
The standard we set in disability and aged care environments reflects what we believe about women’s worth.
On 8 March 2026, our position is clear:
Women with disability and ageing women deserve visibility, leadership, safety and respect.
Not merely an aspiration, but the standard practice. And that is work we remain committed to every day.
How are you supporting your organisation to rise above discrimination and balance the scales?
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Author: Amanda Robinson BA, MMHealthPrac,
As Head of Learning and Development and a seasoned NDIS expert, Amanda drives capability and sustainability in the disability and health sectors. With over 15 years of experience, post-graduate qualifications in Mental Health Leadership and Management, and currently pursuing an MBA, she brings deep expertise and personal insight as someone with lived experience of disability. A devoted carer, Amanda champions Human Rights, working to dismantle stigma and barriers for individuals with disability and mental health challenges. She is passionate about building robust stakeholder relationships, leveraging her advocacy, communication, strategic thinking, and analysis skills.
