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Choose to Challenge, the theme for International Women's Day this year, was embraced across the school.

Guest speakers at the International Women's Day breakfast shared their own personal journey of challenge while students in Junior and Middle School challenged gender bias and inequality.

Celebrating women

Students looked at biographies and stories about inspirational, brave and strong women. They then shared stories about the women who inspire them and discussed how we can come together to create an inclusive world for all.

Celebrating mums and grandmothers featured strongly as students spoke passionately about the females in their lives that support and encourage them. Others chose role models like surfers, Bethany Hamilton and Stephanie Gilmore, or educational activists like Malala Yousafzai to celebrate and honour.

Students #ChooseToChallenge

Students explored the theme of challenge and how, with challenge can come change. They choose to support and encourage their female friends, advocate for equal rights, celebrate female achievements, challenge stereotypes and bias, and learn more about women in our history. 

Students felt empowered that collectively, we can all help create a more fair and inclusive world.

Don't be afraid of challenges

CCGS hosted its annual IWD breakfast and we were delighted to welcome guest speaker and CCGS alumni, Lauren Curtis (2006). Lauren is a paediatric physiotherapist with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and has a First Class Honors, Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy).

Lauren encouraged students to 'Choose to Challenge' throughout the various stages of their lives at school, university and work.

"Challenges can arise anywhere. Some of my biggest have been when traveling and experiencing the world outdoors. These kinds of environments give you an opportunity to build problem-solving skills, build self-confidence and develop resilience," said Lauren.

"Once I tried to hire a kayak in the Galapagos Islands. I had to persuade the man in charge, in Spanish, that I was perfectly capable of paddling the kayak as a solo female. He thought otherwise. But I chose to challenge him and my Spanish! After a long debate, he finally accepted my challenge and I had one of the best experiences of my life," added Lauren.

Be kind and respect one another

Lauren spoke passionately about how a small challenge for one person may be a big challenge for someone else and how we should respect this and be kind to each other. She also encouraged students to support the choice to challenge by having a positive attitude, being flexible, and taking opportunities. 

Lauren said, "When things don't turn out quite as you had planned then consider accepting the secondary challenges. And always model what you expect and what you want to see from others."

Challenge yourself

Year 12 student, Olivia Field encouraged students to challenge the barriers of social norms and question the perceptions of those around them.

"Challenge yourself to be part of a global movement, whose task is to draw a line in the sand and speak out about gender inequality and recognise the work of women in societies across the globe. Because from challenge comes change, and in the words of Joshua J. Marine, “challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them makes life meaningful."," shared Olivia.

To all women and girls around the world, we celebrate YOU. #ChooseToChallenge #IWD21