Stories - March 4, 2026
Intereach helps to ‘Balance the Scales’ this International Women’s Day
Intereach is joining the call to Balance the Scales this International Women’s Day.
With gender-based violence still widespread and barriers preventing access to justice, opportunity and leadership, the UN Women Australia theme is a promise: every woman and girl — regardless of background or identity — deserves to be safe, heard and free to shape her own life.
Equality is not about advantage. It is about dignity, safety and fairness for all.
At Intereach, social justice is more than a value — it’s how we work and how we lead.
“It’s about fairness, access and dignity, making sure people have the support they need to live the lives they choose, regardless of where they live or the challenges they face,” Co-CEO Yvette Buhagiar said.
“When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer and communities are safer.
Yvette Buhagiar.
“Embedding social justice isn’t about statements on a wall. It shows up in how we lead our teams, how we design services, allocate resources, listen to lived experience and advocate when systems aren’t working.
“It also means creating space for community voices to shape decisions, being intentional about whose perspectives are heard, and holding ourselves accountable to our values — even when that challenges the status quo.”
Women make up more than 80 per cent of Intereach’s workforce, and five of its six executive leaders are women, including Mrs Buhagiar.
When it comes to strong leadership, Mrs Buhagiar said it started with clarity, humility and humanity.
“Clarity about purpose. Humility to know you don’t have all the answers. And humanity to genuinely care about people,” she said.
“Good leaders create the conditions for others to do their best work.”
People, Quality and Risk General Manager Felicity Whorlow agreed and said leadership in community services must be values-based and people-centred.
“Resilient, agile leaders ground decisions in integrity, empathy and fairness, while prioritising wellbeing and inclusive voices,” she said.
Felicity Whorlow
For Operations General Manager Kerrie-Anne Hyde, psychologically safe workplaces are essential to achieving equity.
“Social justice means dignity, respect and real access to opportunity,” she said.
“I embed this at Intereach by promoting lived experience, prioritising equity in decision making and creating a culture where everyone is heard and valued.”
Kerri-Anne Hyde
Board Chair Alison Maclean said gender equity required action, not rhetoric.
“All people should be supported to lead their best life. I am committed to never walking past something I do not accept,” she said.
“Leadership is about making space for others to succeed and influencing systems so people can access the support they need for the life they want to lead.”
Alison Maclean
Through its Gender Equality Strategy, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and strengthened Domestic and Family Violence Policy, Intereach continues to embed equity across its workforce and services.
To learn more about our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and how this builds strong, connected communities, visit Inclusion Action Plan – Intereach
Follow Intereach on Facebook, Instagram and Linked In as we celebrate International Women’s Day.
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