Dear Guest,

Do you remember a time when you could draw or create anything in your imagination? Without limits on shapes or colours. There were no rules about where your mind could take you.

And then, we grew up.

Many of us stopped drawing altogether. Child's play was replaced by routine and responsibility.

Imagine if we allowed ourselves to tap into those creative powers. How can we unlock our childlike thinking?

This was a challenge put to the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium yesterday by the Founder and CEO of My Green World, Natalie Kyriacou OAM.

Natalie is inspired by curiosity. And the best source of that, she reflects, can come from children and young people. Like one of her Board Directors, 8-year-old Isaac Busuttil.

Yes, eight years old!

Isaac is a young wildlife warrior and youth advisor helping to address global wildlife and environmental challenges through innovative, youth-focused education.

Natalie tells the story of Isaac's presentation about sharks to a well-suited group of consultants. During the Q&As, Isaac decided he'd ask some questions of his audience. When he asked "what do you do?", none of these highly qualified consultants were able to describe what they actually did in a way that would be meaningful to an 8-year-old boy.

"Great leaders are right in front of us," says Natalie. "Young people are changing us, challenging us and making us uncomfortable. They are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today."

Listening to the wisdom of young, diverse voices can help us unlock our own curiosity and childlike thinking and it can transform organisations.

This week, Women's Network Australia launched a sponsorship program where our members can sponsor a young woman to join WNA. For just $149, you can give a woman aged under 25 the boost they need by welcoming them to our vibrant community of women in business.

You can either nominate a young woman in business to gift membership to, or we will allocate it to one of the "up & comers" featured in the latest edition of Women’s Network magazine.

Get in before 30 June by emailing us at admin@womensnetwork.com.au and inspire a young woman to follow their dreams!

With courage and hope,

Cheryl Gray
CEO

We need to talk about breast cancer

Breast Cancer Trials is hosting the next in their popular series of Q&As about breast cancer and young women. The Q&A will be held at Melbourne's Federation Square on Wednesday 27 July, 5.30pm to 7pm, and broadcast live.

All women are at risk of developing breast cancer and the risk greatly increases with age with most cases of breast cancer occurring in women over the age of 50. However, young women diagnosed with breast cancer can often face unique challenges and are more likely to be diagnosed with a more aggressive type of cancer.

The definition of ‘young women’ in the breast cancer sense, refers to women who are pre-menopausal or 40 years and younger.

Approximately 7% of breast cancers diagnosed in Australia are women in this age group, which equates to approximately 1,000 women each year – 79 of these women are estimated to die from the disease.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. But for those aged 20-39 years in Australia, it is also the most common cause of cancer death. Some of the challenges facing young women diagnosed with breast cancer may include premature menopause, fertility and sexuality issues, and the impact of breast cancer on caring for young children, education and careers.

In Breast Cancer Trials’ next Q&A event, moderated by Author and Journalist Annabel Crabb (pictured above), leading researchers and breast cancer experts will discuss breast cancer in young women.

Find out more here.

Minimum wage rise

The Fair Work Commission has announced that minimum award wages will increase by 4.6%, which is subject to a minimum increase for award classifications of $40 per week and based on a 38-hour week for a full-time employee. This means minimum award wages:

above $869.60 per week, will get a 4.6% increase
below $869.60 per week, will get a $40 increase.

The new National Minimum Wage will apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2022. This means if you have a weekly pay period that starts on Mondays, the new rates will apply from Monday 4 July 2022.

If you are covered by an award, award increases happen in two stages. Most awards will increase from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2022. For some awards in the aviation, hospitality and tourism industries, the increase will happen from 1 October 2022.

Are you having a taxing time?

Small businesses and sole traders having trouble paying their tax can set up payment plans with the ATO.

A payment plan is a practical way to meet your payment obligations. It allows you to break down your payment into smaller, manageable amounts that you pay over an agreed period of time. You pay an amount every week, fortnight or month until the balance is cleared.

If you owe $100,000 or less you can set up a payment plan using the ATO's online services via myGov (if you're a sole trader) or Online services for business (for other businesses). Your registered tax agent can also set up a payment plan on your behalf using Online services for agents.

Eligible small businesses that owe overdue activity statement amounts may be able to pay them off interest-free over 12 months. Read more here.

News from Queensland

The Queensland Budget this week delivered $363 million in response to the first report of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce. Other funding highlights supporting women's wellbeing and economic security are summarised here.

Ravishing Fashionistas event

Ravishing Fashionistas Spring Themed Fashion Show 2022 is just 6 weeks away! Book your seat now so you don't miss out on the amazing Spring Themed Fashion Show on 6 August at Old Government House, QUT.

Winter Series

Next week we will be rolling out dates and speakers for our Winter Series virtual networking events, with our networking breakfasts to resume in September.

News from Victoria

Thank you Marion

Thank you to WNA Member and Official Ambassador for Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Marion Mays who spent last night sleeping on a cold concrete floor to help raise awareness and funds to end homelessness for women. Here's why:

The number of older homeless females has increased by 31% (ABS 2016)
62% of people who seek help from homelessness services are women. (Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW)
The top 2 reasons for people seeking assistance were: (AIHW)
- family and domestic violence (42%)
- housing affordability (28%).

Last night was Marion's 6th CEO Sleepout. Through these efforts, she has raised almost $70,000 and donated countless hours volunteering. We need to do more to provide safer pathways, particularly for older women. Thanks for leading the way Marion! Donate here.

Photo by Marion's son

News from New South Wales

This week the NSW Government delivered what it describes as a reformist budget which includes $16.5 billion over 10 years to programs that will benefit women, improve the experiences of women in the workforce and support women in small business and entrepreneurship. Find out more about the NSW Women's Opportunity Statement here.

News from Tasmania

The Department of State Growth offers grants and loans to businesses and individuals to assist in professional and sector development in Tasmania. Visit here to review your area of interest to find out if you are eligible for a state grant.

Do you have views on the opportunities and challenges for growing a business in Tasmania?
Join Business Tasmania's consultations to inform Tasmania’s Business Growth Strategy 2022-26 and help identify the priorities that will support business growth in Tasmania. Consultation is open for business owners, employees, business advisers and representative organisations until 15 July 2022.
Participation options include in-person sessions across Tasmania, online sessions as well as a survey and email submissions. Visit here for more information and to view consultation options and session times.

Recommended reads for June

Our WNA Business Book Club titles for June are:
(titles link to place of purchase)

Finding Our Heart. A story about the Uluru Statement for young Australians. By Thomas Mayor with illustrations by Blak Douglas. (Hardie Grant)
How to Be Well. A Handbook for Women. By Dr Karen Coates & Sharon Kolkka. (Simon and Schuster)
The Happy Healthy Leader. Achieving your potential even during a crisis. By Margie Ireland
The End of Technophobia. A practical guide to digitising your business. By Tracy Sheen.

Would you like to be a WNA book reviewer? Email the WNA Team and we will send you a reviewer's book to keep and review.

What would you like to read about in The Friday File?

We love your feedback. Tell us what you'd like to read in future editions of The Friday File, or send us your news by emailing admin@womensnetwork.com.au

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