International Women’s Day 2022: we chat to 7 women doing great things at Australia Post

This year, International Women’s Day will be celebrated under the theme #BreakTheBias, a movement that encourages a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. As part of the global day on March 8th, we invited women from Australia Post and our charity partner, Indigenous Literacy Foundation, to discuss what #BreakTheBias means to them and how everyone can champion the spirit of International Women’s Day all year round.

Kylie Smith, Gamilaroi/Gomeroi woman – Postal Manager at Australia Post

Kylie is the proud Postal Manager of Tennant Creek Community Post Office in the Northern Territory. Being in an isolated township, her Post Office is often the lifeline between remote stations and communities, as they fly supplies in and out weekly. 

What does ‘breaking the bias’ mean to you?  
“Breaking the bias means so many different things when applying it to what we at Australia Post can achieve. For me, it has meant challenging my own concept of what I can do and accepting the opportunities, support and career development that I had no idea I would experience just a short 18-months ago. As a relatively new member of the Australia Post community, I am learning new things every day and consistently re-evaluating what I think I know about my job as a manager of a local Post Office in a remote community.”

What gives you hope this International Women’s Day? 
“My hope is that more workplaces develop fair practices for women within all industries. ‘Equality’ doesn't do justice to a modern society as there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to the issues that women are still facing in the workplace. It is getting better, but we aren't there yet.”

What are some of the ways we can keep the message of International Women’s Day alive throughout the year?
“Every day is a day that we can celebrate. I see no reason we should celebrate the progress of women on a select day of the year. Whenever we see an opportunity to support and encourage fellow females in their careers, small business ideas, philanthropy, and family is a good day indeed.” 

Sharbani Dhar - Design Director Operations Digital Channels and Innovation at Australia Post

Sharbani looks after the people, culture and processes of the Digital Experience team at Australia Post. Her team is responsible for crafting delightful, user-friendly digital experiences for our customers, which help them stay informed and connected even when they are not physically able to come into our stores. 

What does ‘breaking the bias’ mean to you?  
“Taking the time to pause, reflect and check if any decisions that I've made have been influenced by any preconceived bias I may have. Every day, trying actively to rely more on facts, conclusive and tangible data instead of pre-set opinions.”

What gives you hope this International Women’s Day?  
“Seeing so many women in leadership positions being great leaders that I, and many other women, look up to. Being part of a company that actively nurtures its female workforce to become confident and impactful change makers through internal programs. All this gives me hope that we are well on our way to build a strong and inclusive workplace.”

What are some of the ways we can keep the message of International Women’s Day alive throughout the year?
“By not looking at gender, but capability. Looking actively to create equality and diversity in opportunities. Consciously being aware of our biases and actively removing them during decision making.” 

Caroline Good – General Manager Customer Excellence Deliveries at Australia Post

In her role at Australia Post, Caroline drives a customer and service excellence culture within operations and as such, is an advocate for women in the male-dominated operations field. Her unique skill set includes a background in finance and numerous developmental achievements, including recently becoming a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

What does ‘breaking the bias’ mean to you?
“Breaking the bias, to me, means ensuring that gender is not even a consideration in the workplace—especially in operations where I have spent most of my career, where people are judged on their capability and nothing else. I have found the best teams are made of a diverse group of people and any bias on things like gender only limits our potential to work together as human beings and achieve amazing things.”

What gives you hope this International Women’s Day? 
“The incredible women in my life give me hope on International Women’s Day (and every day). The way women in my team support other women shows me that when we support each other, great things happen.”

“I also feel optimistic when I see the men across my team invested and proactively supporting, developing and encouraging women. Everyone has a role to play in breaking the bias and I see that we are moving in the right direction.”

What are some of the ways we can keep the message of International Women’s Day alive throughout the year?
“Some of the most impactful moments in my own career have come from seeing the women I look up to speak vulnerably and honestly about challenges and opportunities they have faced.”

“Speaking up when you see something, supporting those in need and showing your vulnerability is something we can all commit to. Challenging perceptions in all areas and breaking down bias won’t be achieved in one day and will take all of us working together to drive the cultural change.”

Melissa Manoa – Service Team Manager at Australia Post

Melissa has been with Australia Post for 15 years and works alongside other senior managers to ensure our teams are equipped with the knowledge and tools to best service our customers. She is passionate about innovating and improving the customer experience, and always strives to cultivate a positive and inclusive workplace for her team.