IT is outrageous that the national gender pay gap sits at 17.9 per cent and it has barely shifted in 20 years.
When an Australian woman has to work over three months more to achieve the same average weekly earnings as a man, then something is wrong.
You might argue that everyone is paid equally in your workplace but this may be due more to luck then design.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWEqual Pay Day was September 4 because it would take a working woman an extra 65 days from the start of the financial year to catch-up to the male average weekly earning of $1519.60.
Isn't it about time that all Australians were awarded equal pay for work of equal value?
Live in WA and your pay gap is the worst in the country at 26 per cent; move to Adelaide, at least then your gap is only 10.8 per cent.
BPW Australia is holding events through September to highlight the $284.20 per week gender pay gap, with BPW Joondalup focusing on women's financial independence and sustainability.
Some employers such as Telstra, AMP, Westpac and Shell Australia are rising to the challenge. Is yours?
I would challenge anyone reading this to visit the Equal Pay Day website www.equalpayday.com.au and get involved in making a change.
SANDRA COOK, president,
BPW Joondalup.