Cat Kutay, Alicia Kuroda-Martin, and Jodi Cowdery advocate for women
International Women’s Day is the chance to ‘unite’ and take steps towards equity. Find out how some of the NT’s inspirational women are commemorating the day.
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International Women’s day represents an opportunity to recognise the unique perspective women bring to society, a leading STEM lecturer said.
Charles Darwin University Science and Technology lecturer Cat Kutay – who previously worked as an electrical engineer – said it could be difficult to work in a male-dominated industry.
“It’s that usual thing where you feel like you don’t belong, you won’t make it, you won’t cut it, you don’t think the right way,” she said.
“The attitude of men, to me – particularly as an Aboriginal woman – has been really, really hard to deal with at times.
“You get some weird reactions, and you think, ‘is that legitimate, or is it just prejudice?’”
Dr Kutay said part of the feminism behind International Women’s Day was ensuring everyone’s voices were heard – not just women’s.
“We need to know that there’s differences, and the other aspect is that we need to understand men’s needs,” she said.
“We‘ve all got to compromise with each other, fit in much more of each other, not just assume that this way is the way.”
Dr Kutay said young women entering the workforce should build up a support network.
“Get a group in together, then go through together, you’re not going to get one (woman) through alone,” she said.
“One woman in a workplace isn’t going to do very well.
“If a workplace is going to encourage women, as a woman when you’re going in, make sure that they do supply other support women.”
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As a young woman hoping to make a difference in the medical industry, student Alicia Kuroda-Martin is excited to join the ranks among her “fellow women in STEM”.
“I just hope to add to and to contribute to the amazing array of work that women and men have done in this field,” she said.
“By being a woman and working in this area, I think I’ll be able to connect more with their health issues and overcome a lot of the barriers and stigmas that people have about women’s capabilities.”
The Charles Darwin University Bachelor of Clinical Sciences student pointed to local GP sessions as an example of breaking down gender-based barriers in the medical industry.
“I think there’s a lot of barriers between men and women in discussing a lot of that, so I hope to personally connect with other women and provide better solutions that may have been overlooked previously,” Ms Kuroda-Martin said.
She said International Women’s Day was a great way for women to “unite and be proud of all of our achievements”.
“I also think International Women’s Day is a great way to highlight all the areas that, globally, we need to work on, such as fundamental health and reproductive rights, the gender pay gap, and overall gender equality and equity.”
Recognising the NT’s heroic women
The NT’s top ambo staff are being recognised for their hard work helping Territorians.
St John NT recognised six employees in the 2023 Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Ambulance Awards.
Amy McCaffrey, Alice Crooman, Julieanne Prior, Kylie Killalea, Lana Harman, and Sabrina Mason were awarded honours.
The recipients were peer-nominated for their achievements, leadership, and willingness to mentor others.
St John NT CEO Andrew Tombs extended his congratulations to the six women.
“Today we celebrate the achievements of women not only in our workplace but in all areas of our lives,” he said.
“The award recipients are being acknowledged for the dedicated professionalism they have displayed as role models in the ambulance sector.
“By supporting the women in our organisation and the ambulance sector to develop their leadership skills and highlighting their achievements we hope to inspire the next generation of women to follow in their footsteps.”
Are we invisible? How NT mining industry is shunning key workforce
Academic Jodi Cowdery is marking International Women’s Day with a data deep-dive to centre and promote the voices of First Nations women.
As a doctoral researcher for Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute, Ms Cowdery is researching the Indigenous women’s employment in – and experiences of – large-scale mining in the NT.
In line with this year’s theme of cracking the code for a gender-equal future, she said much of her research was about access.
“We have mines operating beside local communities all throughout the NT, yet very few people are being drawn from that local workforce, so that’s a social justice and access issue,” Ms Cowdery said.
“I’d like to know why mines aren’t recruiting from those local workforces, particularly the Indigenous women there.”
Ms Cowdery said International Women’s Day was an opportunity to reflect on the key roles women played in society.
“It’s a chance to focus on the work that women are doing … and to really have a look at those strengths and how societies and systems can better incorporate those,” she said.
Ms Cowdery said her research was inspired by her great grandmother’s life story.
“She was affected by the pastoral industry in southwest Queensland and northwest New South Wales, which impacted on Indigenous people as well as Indigenous females in particular,” she said.
“She can’t tell those stories, so this is one way that I can make sure people get a chance to tell their stories.”
As a female academic, Ms Cowdery hopes to be a role model for other Indigenous women.
“I think it’s really important that Indigenous women can see other Indigenous women doing things they’d like to do,” she said.
“For me, myself, that gave me the confidence to have a go at the things I wanted to do.
“I think visibility is really important.”
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