Portland District Health is celebrating the role women play at the health service and more broadly in the community with a series of events this week to mark International Women’s Day on Wednesday March 8.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future’ and everyone is being encouraged to embrace equity.
PDH CEO Samantha Sharp will expand on that theme with a short speech on the importance of gender equality, embracing disruptive innovation and access to education during a staff morning tea on Wednesday March 8.
“Equity is a must-have and it should be part of every society, every organisation, every business and every household,” Ms Sharp said.
“PDH has a well-established reputation as being an organisation that embraces equity in all its forms and we will continue to advocate for equal opportunities for everyone,” she said.
Most of PDH’s executive team are women and women make up 88 per cent of the health service’s workforce.
PDH’s program for International Women’s Day week of celebration kicked off on Monday with a word puzzle staff are encouraged to complete and then continues with Pilates sessions at lunchtime. Today there is a lunchtime walking group for 20 minutes along the Ploughed Fields and Nuns Beach.
On Wednesday, all staff are being encouraged to wear purple or green in support of International Women’s Day and to get involved in the morning tea.
More Pilates classes will be offered later in the week. All staff, both female and male, are encouraged to do the Pilates sessions and take care of their wellbeing.
Ms Sharp said it was important that the community embrace equality for everyone.
“PDH recognises the diversity of the Portland community and fosters diversity in the workplace and encourages everyone to strive for quality,” she said.
