International Women's Day 2025

 
The theme for UN Women Global International Women's Day 2025 is, 'March Forward: It’s time to turn promises into progress'. The United Nations observance of the 'March Forward' theme marks a pivotal moment of the 30th anniversary of the UN Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – a global policy framework and vision for the realisation of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, adopted by 189 countries in 1995. In the 30 years since, women have broken barriers, reshaped policies, and sparked global movements, but for millions of women, the promises of Beijing+30 remain unfulfilled.

This year AOA celebrated International Women's Day with a social campaign across LinkedIn and Facebook, highlighting our member's career journey in medicine and supporting organisations, and how they pave the way for the next generation of female orthopaedic surgeons. 
 
Should you have any questions or would like to get involved in our diversity initiatives, please contact aoa@aoa.org.au
 
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SA OWL representative and orthopaedic consultant Afsana Hasan shares her experience at a rural hospital appointment where over half of the unit were female, demonstrating the strides being made towards gender equality in orthopaedics. 
 
 
WA-based orthopaedic surgeon Dr Koula Pratsis reflects on her journey into orthopaedics from war-torn Cyprus to Bunbury, becoming the first woman to complete WA’s orthopaedic training program in 1995. 
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AOA staff gathered in the Sydney office (and online nationally) over morning tea to celebrate UN Women Australia’s #IWD2025 with the theme ‘March Forward’. Staff wore purple and shared stories of women who inspired them, from family members, to friends, associates, and colleagues in and beyond the orthopaedic community. 
 
 
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OWL VIC/TAS representative and shoulder and elbow surgeon Dr Pamela Boekel shares her experience of the biases she faced early in her career, and how she dismantled these biases by sharing her experiences with others and working to rise together. 
 
Orthopaedic registrar and AOA 21 trainee Dr Inas Badres reflected on her journey onto the training program and the support network of friends, community, and women before her who helped pave the way. 
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Former OWL Chair and founder of the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance (IODA) Dr Jennifer Green reflects on her own research practice and results, and the critical role women surgeons, researchers, and research participants play in advancing gender equity in orthopaedics. 
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Former AOA OWL Chair Danielle Wadley shares how she has supported women in their careers through employment at her private practice, helping to pave the way as a role model for female orthopaedic surgeons and those in related fields.