International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise how far we’ve come toward gender equality — and the collective work that remains. 

This year’s theme, Balance the Scales, reminds us that every woman and girl should be safe, heard, and free to shape her own life. Yet in 2026, that is still not the reality for many women across Australia and globally. 

Discriminatory systems, policies, and attitudes persist. Gender-based violence and economic inequality continue to limit access to safety, justice, and leadership for many. 

Women with disability face additional barriers 

For many women with disability, these challenges are often intensified by other barriers. 

In Australia, around 4.4 million people — about 18% of the population — live with disability, and roughly half are women. People with disability are diverse, representing every community, culture, and identity. Each person has unique experiences, needs, and strengths. 

Creating a society that fully includes and values people with disability means ensuring women with disability are heard, respected, and equitably represented in the spaces where decisions are made. 

Leadership and representation matter 

Across Australia, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles. Women hold approximately 22.3% of CEO positions, 35.1% of key management roles, 34.0% of board seats, and 18.0% of board chair roles. 

Data specific to women with disability in leadership remains limited, yet available evidence suggests representation is low. For instance, only around 16% of women with disability report feeling represented in leadership roles. This shows that progress must continue. 

Recognising leadership at every level 

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the many women with disability already leading— and those ready to lead when equitable opportunities and pathways are available. 

At DANA, we are proud to have a woman as our Board Chair and an executive leadership team made up entirely of women with disability. Across our organisation, more than 60% of our management team are women. 

Leadership at DANA also extends beyond formal roles. We have women leading in numerous ways through policy, advocacy, mentoring, peer support, and through their lived experiences. Their voices help challenge barriers, influence better decisions, and supporting building our vision of a nation that includes and values people with disabilities and respects human rights for all.  

What we can all do 

Balancing the scales is a shared responsibility. 

You can contribute by listening to and amplifying the voices of women with disability, fostering inclusive leadership opportunities, and addressing barriers when you see them. This may mean mentoring emerging leaders, ensuring accessibility in leadership pathways, or simply making space for different perspectives at the table. 

When women with disability are empowered to lead, thrive, and contribute in ways that reflect their strengths, our organisations, communities, and country are stronger and fairer for it.