It is with great pleasure that I announce, on behalf of the Board of NCJWA (Vic), our new CEO, Lee Ann Basser.

Lee Ann was previously Reader & Associate Professor in the La Trobe Law School. She has a strong commitment to improving the status of women and to social change for vulnerable populations. She has extensive experience in overseeing day-to-day operations and planning as well as effectively managing staff.

In her role as an academic, Lee Ann has proven to be an accomplished researcher. She has authored/edited 5 books and numerous articles and book chapters. She has been a chief investigator on a number of funded projects and has experience in grant applications, report writing, law reform submissions and program evaluation.

Lee Ann is also an experienced board member with a strong and practical understanding of governance. It is a very exciting time for Lee Ann to join our organization. NCJWA (Vic) is undergoing a period of renewal and development with exciting new programs planned that will add to the wonderful work we shall continue to undertake in both the local and wider community. Lee Ann will take a leadership role in this process. She began her employment on Monday, 23 May 2016.

I am very pleased to welcome Lee Ann to our team and look forward to introducing her to you at coming events.

Kind regards,

Shirley Glance
President

The Gender Paradox: Why both Misogyny and Feminism are on the Rise

Elana Sztokman
ABC Religion and Ethics

11 May 2016

There are some strange things happening around the world when it comes to gender. And I'm not just referring to the Queen of England driving around the Saudi prince in a Range Rover, just to prove that women can drive.

Read more:

http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2016/05/11/4460014.htm

NCJWA (Vic) recently hosted an Interfaith Model Women's Seder with woman and girls of several faiths represented. See below photos of the event as appeared in the AJN of May 6.

A Jewish Women's Lawyer Network is to be created under the auspice of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (Vic). 

The purpose of JWLN will be to bring together Jewish women in the legal profession, including lawyers, Judges, law students and policy makers, for the purposes of sharing ideas, learning from one another's experiences and developing a support network specifically for Jewish women in the legal profession. 

JWLN has come about to fill a gap that currently exists in Victoria for Jewish professional women, in the legal industry. “It is my hope that JWLN will be a group that will focus on issues that are of specific interest and foster camaraderie and support for Jewish women in the legal profession,” said Dara Isaacson, creator of the Network. 

 JWLN will hold a number of events throughout the year.  These events will be an opportunity to meet other Jewish women in the legal profession, listen to guest speakers, gain CPD points and network.  There will also be a regular newsletter which will include upcoming event information as well as articles and reports on JWLN member achievements and current events in the legal community in Victoria.

“We are thrilled to be supporting the creation of the Network, as we see it aligned with our mission of creating a better world for women, said Shirley Glance, President NCJWA (Vic), “We can also see the benefits and opportunities that such a network creates especially on issues we are involved with such as Agunot or our work with Stop the Traffik, in preventing human trafficking. “

The launch of the Network will take place at a cocktail event on Wednesday 1 June with guest speakers County Court Judge Sandy Davis, and family lawyer Talya Faigenbaum.

This will be held at Farrar Gesini Dunn, Level 5 466 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne at 6 pm.

Email Dara Isaacson at d.isaacson@fgd.com.au to be added to the JWLN mailing list and to advise your attendance at the launch. 

DR ELANA SZTOKMAN

May 21-26 2016

Award-winning author, sociologist, educator, activist and thinker in the field of Orthodox Jewish feminism

THE WEEK'S EVENTS:

Saturday 21 May, 9.45 am

Shira Hadasha Melbourne

Shabbat Kiddush

222 Balaclava Rd, Caulfield
No Registration necessary
www.shira.org.au

Sunday 22 May, 12:45 PM

Melbourne Jewish Writer's Festival

"Judaism and the Man"

Dr Elana Stzokman, author of of The Men’s Section: Orthodox Jewish Men in an Egalitarian World, chairs a discussion with Greg Fisher (Inside Out), Dion Kagan (Positive Images: Gay Men and HIV/AIDS) and  Arne Rubinstein (The Making of Men).

Long Room
Lamm Jewish Library
304 Hawthorn Road
Caulfield South
www.mjwf.com.au/tickets

Sunday, 22 May 7:30 PM

Register Now Online

Monday 23 May, 10:45 AM

Melbourne Jewish Writer's Festival

"Many Shades of Feminism: Women Pushing the Boundaries"

Elana Sztokman joins Lee Kofman (The Dangerous Bride), Clare Wright (The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka) and Rebecca Forgasz, Director of the Jewish Museum of Australia leading the discussion on feminism.

Long Room
Lamm Jewish Library
304 Hawthorn Road
Caulfield South
www.mjwf.com.au/tickets

TUESDAY 24 MAY, 7:45 - 9:30 PM

Mina Fink Memorial Lecture:

"WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP IN ISRAEL"

GLEN EIRA COLLEGE

Members $10, non-members $12

Register Online or call 9044 5401

Thursday 26 May, 7:45 PM

GETTing It Right From The Start: Exploring Jewish Marriage and Divorce 
‘Mekudeshet’ screening followed by Panel Discussion

Unchain My Heart and NCJWA (Vic) Joint Event

Glen Eira College
76 Booran Road, Caulfield East
https://www.trybooking.com/LDSP

 

The rate of Australian children in Foster Care is alarming. With 41,000 Australian children removed from their homes for their own safety in 2015¹, the demand for children in need of Foster Care has never been higher.

Pauline Posner, a member of the Jewish Community, completed a Diploma of Community Services Work and Diploma of Counselling and has returned to study Case Management.  She became aware of the high number of children in need of support after her placement at Wesley Mission in Dandenong.

“The selflessness I witnessed by the team at Wesley Mission each day is incredible. You truly realise how many children need stability and don’t know what family life is”

Pauline is motivated to raising awareness for the need of Foster Care in her local Caulfield and surrounding communities.

With the support of Jewish Care, Wesley Mission Victoria, Anglicare Victoria and OzChild, Pauline invites you to an inspirational evening listening to the stories of those involved in Foster Care, participants of the Foster Care system and inspiring videos of the benefits of becoming a Foster Carer.  

“The evening will be a fantastic opportunity for the Jewish Community to become aware of the demand for Foster Care in Australia. There are a lot of misconceptions about becoming a Foster Carer. There are an overwhelming number of children with the potential to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives and the opportunity to provide them either short or long term support from a caring family can change their lives forever. We would love the opportunity to share with the community how rewarding being a Foster Carer can be.”

Families Supporting Families information night will be held on Thursday April 14^th
7:30pm – 9:30pm at the Caulfield Park Bowls Club,
280 Balaclava Road, Caulfield, 3162

Light refreshments will be provided on the evening with members of the above Foster Care agencies on-hand to answer any questions you may have.

To RSVP for this free information evening, please visit: https://www.trybooking.com/KSXR
For more information on the evening contact Pauline via futurefosterfamilies@gmail.com
___________________________
¹ Megan Mitchell – National Children’s Commissioner, 2015

"IN PRAISE OF BEING KNOWN"

Marcia Jacobs: A conversation about gay children and one mother's identity

The event on Wednesday evening was an immense success, with the venue filled to capacity to hear Marcia Jacobs' fascinating and informative talk.

For those who were unable to attend, you may be interesed in the books Marcia referred to during her talk:

Nice Jewish Girls- A Lesbian Anthology by Evelyn Torton Beck. 
This one might be a difficult one to find.

Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon. 
This one is readily available.

For more information on future NCJWA(Vic) Brainfood Talks and events please check our website www.ncjwavic.org.au

Never miss another event! To sign up for our weekly What's On upcoming events newsletter, subscribe at http://bit.ly/ncjwa-subscribe

This important notice from our friends at JCCV -

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Forum
Monday 11 April, 8 PM
Beit Weizmann