‘Women’s Health through the Ages’ was on everyone’s lips as the St Catherine’s community came together for the annual St Catherine’s International Women’s Day Luncheon for 2024.

As a community, we are committed to working to support, build and improve the outcomes and futures of women. To highlight this, we hosted our annual International Women’s Day (IWD) Luncheon, proudly supported by Sylvania BMW, in March, to raise funds for our Indigenous Scholarships. Over 200 of our present and past parents, alumni and friends gathered to celebrate women. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose as we came together to acknowledge the achievements of women and discuss ways to advance their wellbeing.

The theme of this year’s lunch was ‘Women’s Health through the Ages’, with a panel of three health experts delving into the journey of women’s health. We were honoured to be joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Sophie Reid, Adolescent Sleep Physician Dr Chris Seton and Clinical Nutritionist and Naturopath Ms Belinda Kirkpatrick who all appeared on a panel led by Mrs Catherine Ajaka, Foundation Board Director and Chair of the Endowment Committee.

From sleep deprivation to compulsory sport for girls and hormone regulation, our health experts provided an informative and in-depth discussion about the many health issues affecting women. The panel discussion was not only educational but also empowering, inspiring many attendees to take proactive steps towards better health and wellbeing. 

For Mrs Catherine Ajaka, the highlight of the event was the panellists: “Not only was the luncheon an opportunity to support a great cause, but it was also a time to be informed and inspired by our guest speakers. Their discussion about managing access to devices, embedding exercise from a young age and talking openly to our daughters about the female body were so insightful. I also loved that the panellists were health experts from our own community, showcasing not only the depth of expertise and knowledge from within the community, but also the willingness to share.”

The annual St Catherine’s IWD Luncheon provides a platform for us to not only celebrate women but also share insight and knowledge within our community. We know that many of our attendees will utilise the lessons learned at the event as they guide their daughters through their own journeys into womanhood.

The luncheon is an opportunity to support our Indigenous Scholarships while being inspired by our guest speakers. — Mrs Catherine Ajaka (Foundation Board & Endowment Chair)

This event supports an important cause: our Indigenous Scholarships. For many years, we have been dedicated to advancing the education of young women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our commitment is to continue this legacy, ensuring that future generations of Indigenous girls have access to a St Catherine’s education. 

We know these scholarships go beyond simply providing educational opportunities to individual students. We have witnessed how our Indigenous students have used the skills and knowledge gained here to create positive change in their communities. In turn, they have deeply enriched the cultural fabric of our school. We are thrilled to announce that this year, the IWD Luncheon raised close to $40,000 for our Indigenous Scholarships. These funds will help us make a meaningful impact on the lives of these remarkable young women.