Equal Pay Day 2011 will be held on 1 September, a date chosen for its significance as marking the additional time after the close of the financial year (63 days) that women have to work to match men’s earnings in that financial year. This calculation is based on ABS average full-time weekly earnings data that found that Australian women earn 17.2% less than men earn in a year.

• Women's Pay has remained between 80-85 percent of men's since 1980.
• National Centre for Social Economic Modelling (NATSEM) estimates that the average Australian woman will earn almost $1 million less over her lifetime than the average Australian man
• By 2019 the average woman will have half the amount of superannuation than the average man
• Women are two and a half times more likely to live in poverty in their old age than men.

The YWCA of Canberra recognises the imperative of financial security for women. Women’s financial security is affected by the continued wage difference between the average earnings of men and women. Wage disparity exists in part because of the lower rates of pay attached to feminised industries such as child care, aged care and the community sector. As such, the YWCA of Canberra is a strong supporter of Equal Pay Day, and recognises the need of community awareness activities such as Equal Pay Day to help educate the business community on the benefits of pay equity, conducting pay audits, and maintaining fair and equitable workplaces.

There are a range of activities occurring to promote Equal Pay Day. In addition, EOWA have developed a range of resources that may be of interest to our members and supporters:

• Equal Pay Day Factsheet
• Pay equity section of the EOWA website
• Equal Pay Day page
• Video clips available through EOWA’s YouTube site and website
• Australian Council of Social Service Fast Facts: Equal Pay Campaign

YWCA of Canberra commends the work of EOWA in encouraging organisations to support Equal Pay Day and is proud to be part of this campaign. As part of this, the YWCA of Canberra has joined other organisations by signing on the supporters list.

Pay inequity is a community problem and the more people who understand its causes and consequences for business, for women and for their families, the more chance we have of eliminating it. Please join us in raising awareness on this issue of vital importance for women and their families.