Celebrating International Women’s Day with Arabella Gibson, Gidget Foundation Australia’s CEO, Arabella Gibson
International Women’s Day is a very special day of the year. It’s a day where we get to celebrate all the incredible women in our lives and acknowledge the hard work, they put into the things they’re passionate about each day. Whether they’re creative chefs serving up delicious dishes for the local community, fashion designers creating gorgeous gowns, or simply hard-working mums who are dedicated to teaching their children how to navigate the world, we’re constantly inspired by the women around us and how their diverse range of skills help to make the world a better place.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re taking the theme ‘inspired inclusion’ out into our local centres and showcasing some of our incredible retailers, staff, and community members who are paving the way for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world.
Today, we’re chatting with Gidget Foundation Australia’s CEO, Arabella Gibson.
What inspired you to want to play a larger role in your community?
As a mother of twins, who experienced significant fertility challenges, I can empathise with how expectant and new parents can feel incredibly vulnerable and isolated. Having worked for many years in the corporate world, I wanted to use my business skills ‘for good,’ so I felt compelled to drive education and awareness and expand the treatment services for people experiencing perinatal mental ill-health. Nearly 100,000 parents are affected by perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA) every year, so the need for the Gidget Foundation has never been greater. My philosophy has always been that it’s important to leave the world in a better place than where you found it. In the time that I’ve been at Gidget Foundation Australia, we’ve provided over 70,000 FREE specialist clinical appointments for people in need nationwide. I often get emails or phone calls from people – or even people who pull me aside at our events – and share that the support they received from the Gidget Foundation saved their life. That is incredibly rewarding and reminds me why I do what I do.
What does the phrase “inspired inclusion” mean to you?
Inspired inclusion sparks the idea of having the forethought to create spaces, workplaces, and dialogue that proactively includes people from all backgrounds to feel safe and welcome. It means providing people with the tools to navigate spaces that may not have been designed for them and ensuring that they succeed.
At the Gidget Foundation, several Groups have been created to empower marginalised communities. This includes the First Nations, LGBTQIA+, and CALD communities, as well as parents with disabilities and parents whose children have disabilities. We are constantly striving to cultivate an organisation that wholeheartedly accepts and celebrates those who have different perspectives and experiences.
Who are some other women in your community that inspire you?
I’m surrounded by powerful and inspiring women every day at Gidget Foundation Australia. Our organisation is, completely unintentionally, about 85% women. But that creates an extremely special environment of warmth, wit, collaboration, and my personal favourite, efficiency! Every individual within the Gidget Foundation family is a piece that creates the perfect puzzle, and that makes it a magical place to work.
How do you think other women can help make their community more inclusive?
Lifting each other up! I believe that supporting women and placing value on the crucial role women play in society is extremely important in creating a more inclusive community. In and out of the workplace, women offer so much and deserve to be appreciated and championed for the contributions they make.
What is it about working with your local community that you love the most?
Seeing the impact of our work in people’s lives and in communities across Australia is a joy to witness. Listening to the lived experience stories of those who have benefitted from our services is so fulfilling and inspires myself and the team at Gidget Foundation Australia to deliver every single day so that expectant and new parents receive the timely, appropriate, and specialist care that they need.
International Women’s Day is the perfect time to thank the women in your community for all that they do. Happy International Women’s Day!
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