Copy
View this email in your browser
WISA newsletter - August 2022

Dear <<First Name>>,

First of all, I would like to welcome our new WISA members! Since our last newsletter went out in May, we have over 60 new members join!

It is really busy time at WISA as we are finalising our transition to our new company structure, hosting WISA networking events with Stay Afloat, and organising all our activities for Seafood Directions which is coming up really quickly!

If you are attending Seafood Direction in September, as WISA members we would love to have you come along to our activities and events. All the details are below.

Scroll down and see what WISA have coming up and what we’ve been up to. Also there are loads of free opportunities at the moment that might interest you for your sector and location - these re listed at the bottom of the newsletter

Kirsten & the WISA Board
 
WISA membership - renewal is coming!

The renewal of WISA memberships has been delayed this year as we have been finalising the transition into our new company structure.  We are in the final stages of this process currently so keep an eye out for your renewal request in your inbox soon.

Thank you for your patience while we complete this exciting new phase for WISA.

Annual subscriptions will remain the same affordable price at $60 + GST.

In 2022-23 there will be even more member benefits to come!

Membership is open to men and women, and we strongly encourage you to help us build support and help your employees, employers and fellow colleagues in the industry to sign up HERE

WISA SEAFOOD DIRECTIONS 2022 BURSARS

WISA has awarded bursaries to 13 amazing and diverse seafood women to attend Seafood Directions in Brisbane in September, supported by all of the State and Territory government agencies.

With almost 50 applicants, we had to make really difficult decisions and would like to congratulate everyone who applied.

We are profiling all of our fabulous bursary holders on Facebook during August, so please keep an eye out to find out more.

We would also like to thank our WISA members who have put their hand up to be mentors/buddies to the bursary holders. Building connections and relationships is what we do, and it has been great to have such enthusiastic support.

PS. Seafood Industry Australia have just announced they are taking applications for full bursaries including registration, flights and accommodation. Applications close 24th August. Click HERE for application form
 

WISA @ SEAFOOD DIRECTIONS

All WISA members are welcome to join the WISA activities happening at Seafood Directions.
We would like to thank all of the wonderful organisations who show their support for women in the industry through sponsoring and supporting our activities. We wouldn't be able to do all of this with them!

Tuesday 13 September

WISA AGM
  • 8.30-9.30am, Room: Lyon 2
  • Separate email with AGM notification to follow
‘Breaking the Barriers’ workshop
  • WISA and Affectus are excited to deliver a workshop designed especially for Seafood Women, discussing and problem solving shared critical issues impacting women today.
  • 10am-12, Room: Lyon 2
  • Registration opening soon! Or email your interest to Kirsten
‘Communicating with impact’ workshop
  • The team from Honey & Fox will facilitate this highly interactive (and fun) workshop where you will learn why stories are so effective and how to use this to power up your communications.
  • 12.30-2.30pm, Room: Lyon 2:
  • Registration opening soon! Or email your interest to Kirsten
Wednesday 14 September

WISA panel
  • A workforce in decline: How can the Australian Seafood Industry attract and retain women?
  • Check upcoming program for details on time and location
WISA/Affectus networking get together
  • At SD2022 we will gather together to connect, reconnect and network. WISA and Affectus are combining our social event and so those attending will include WISA Bursars and mentors, WISA members, NSILP Graduates, ARLP, Nuffield and Churchill Scholars, and Industry key stakeholders and leaders
  • 5.30-6.30pm, NSILP space
  • Register HERE
Thursday 15 September

Power Up breakfast
  • 7-8.30am
  • Power Up is sold out but it is great to see so many WISA members attending!

BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH BETTER CONNECTIONS
 
Over the last few months WISA have been working with Jo Marshall, Program Manager of Stay Afloat, to hold a number of state-based events to promote mental health in the seafood industry, as part of the community resilience grants.

Programs like Stay Afloat are at the core of what WISA stands for, which is a community of support and connection.

Watch this space as we plan more local events to “build resilience through better connections”. Based on the feedback we have had we are making plans for regular catch ups in all States/Territories. 😊 If you are interested in getting involved, get in touch with Kirsten.

Hobart 7th July 2022
WISA President and Tasmanian Director Heidi Mumme hosted a local event held at Mures in Hobart, which was a fantastic opportunity for 30 men and women from the seafood industry to connect and build their knowledge about mental health. Stay Afloat’s Jo Marshall and Mark Wright, Tassie’s very own Rural Alive and Well (RAW) seafood industry outreach officer, provided us with information on the national program and the work RAW are doing here in Tasmania.

Darwin 26th July and 9th August
WISA NT Director, Sam Nowland, co-ordinated a ‘Free Coffee for Mental Health’ Stay Afloat event with JO Marshall and Darwin’s Trusted Advocates Michael O’Brien, Fran Davis and Toni Hedditch. It was a fantastic turnout of over 80 seafood people, connecting and chatting about mental health in our industry. If you missed out there is a second ‘Free Coffee for Mental Health’ event from 8-10 am on the 9th August at the Darwin Aquaculture Centre. All are welcome!

Melbourne 3rd August
WISA Vic Director Barb Konstas and EO Kirsten Abernethy hosted a get together at the Melbourne Seafood Centre. Over some delicious food, Jo Marshall chatted to Simone Cresp from Hunters and Disciples Cafe. We heard the powerful and relatable story of one woman who has come through the other side of stress and trauma, and learned how we can keep well through supporting each other.
 
PORTRAIT OF A SEAFOOD WOMAN – CALL FOR PHOTOS!

WISA want to increase the visibility of amazing diversity of women who work in and with the Australian seafood industry, from women at sea to women in the lab. We can all take photos now and WISA would love to see your pics. Your photo might be of a woman you admire and care about or a woman doing a job we don’t typically see.

WISA would like to use the photos for our new website and in our promotions. If you send us a description of the photo as well, we can showcase them in our social media posts. The portrait must be of a woman over 18. We will also need to get your consent so we will send you a form to sign before we use the photos.  

Please send your photos to Kirsten: eo@womeninseafood.org.au
BOOK REVIEW
– by Sam Nowland (WISA NT Director)

The Wife Drought by Annabel Crabb is about women, men, family and work. Written with candid humour and meticulously researched, she unpacks the issues surrounding the share of domestic work, work life balance, and the role of ‘The Wife’ in Australia. In our fixation on the barriers that face women on the way into the workplace, we forget about the barriers that – for men – still block the exits. This entertaining and thought-provoking book is a catalyst for a conversation that is long overdue. It is a must read (or listen!) for all attending WISA’s Power Up Breakfast at Seafood Directions.  
 

OPPORTUNITIES
 
This section of our newsletter alerts our members to local opportunities we come across. If there is something in your region that you think would interest WISA members, please get in touch with Kirsten or your local WISA Board member.

Free mental health first aid training
More than 200 amazing seafood people have completed the FREE Stay Afloat Mental Health First Aid training course and have the skills to support one another in those tricky everyday conversations which happen when someone is struggling, or when we’re worried about them.

Register your interest HERE for the upcoming course starting 25th August. The training is free for anyone connected to the commercial seafood industry.
If you can’t make this one but you are keen to join the next, email people@seafoodindustryaustralia.com.au to register your interest

Helping Victorian Rural Women get online 
A free new program to empower Victorian rural and regional women to learn digital skills has been launched by the Victorian Women's Trust. The program includes a whole suite of ‘How to Guides’, in person training in August & Sept at open day events, a help desk hotline which you can call to get help with your query (amazing!) and one-to-one mentoring for 30 hours with an IT savvy woman.

Does the community trust our rural industries?
This ACT event will showcase the latest research data on the drivers of trust, acceptance and perceptions of rural industries as well as in-depth insights into the experiences of workers in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.  

This is your opportunity to collaborate with other industry leaders and learn practical ideas on how to boost trust in rural industries and the retention and attraction of its workforce.

When: Tuesday, 23 August 2022, 8.30am – 4.30pm 
Where: Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes ACT, 2600
Register HERE by 9th August
 
Fishing Industry Leadership and Representation Training
The NSW Professional Fishers Association (PFA) has launched free online self-paced training modules. The training has been developed out of the recognition that it is essential for members of the commercial fishing industry to be able to engage effectively with Fisheries Agencies and participate in fisheries management decision making. It focuses on eight key areas of capacity and capability building, designed to benefit industry participants of all ages and roles.
  • Effective Representation
  • Representing your Industry
  • Effective Communication
  • Influencing People
  • Effective Meetings
  • Technology Knowledge
  • Opportunities for Improvement
Click HERE to find out more and enrol in the training. For more information on the training, email Jenny Xu from the Australian Maritime and Fisheries Academy on jxu@afa.edu.au.
 
Smart and easy ways to use digital tools in your fishing business 
Can you relate to any of these statements?
  • I want to know how using digital tools can help me in my fishing business
  • I want to know how to choose the right equipment to help me go digital
  • I want to know how to stay safe in cyberspace
  • I want to know how to use apps to become more efficient in my fishing business
  • I want to know how social media benefit my fishing business
If this sounds like you then you might want to check out the Queensland Digital Fishers Program HERE – it is specially designed for commercial fishing businesses. They are on a mission to help commercial fishing businesses save time and money – to help do business tasks more efficiently so that you can spend more time doing more of what you love! If you want to find out how to start quickly and easily using digital tools in your business, you can join  a 3-hour workshop at one of 7 ports across Queensland or register for their free online course. 
 
Have you got news to share, we love hearing about the achievements and roles of Women in our Industry please let us know by email eo@womeninseafood.org.au or via Facebook direct message.

We can then share to show the depth and breadth of WISA Women which is a strong message we have heard from our members. 
LinkedIn
Facebook
Website
Instagram
Copyright © 2022 WISA, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp