Hi everyone,
Every year, International Women’s Day gives us a moment to pause, reflect, and recommit to creating a more equitable world. This year’s UN Women Australia theme “Balance the Scales” resonates deeply with the work we do at BCNA and with the lived experiences of the hundreds of thousands of women we serve.
Recently, I had the privilege of spending time with our long-time partner Sussan to explore what this year’s theme truly means for women navigating Australia’s healthcare system. Their guiding motto “By Women, For Women” pairs powerfully with “Balance the Scales”, highlighting both the strength of women supporting women and the urgency of creating systems that work with them, not against them.
In our conversation, I reflected on how often women must fight to be heard, believed, and supported within a healthcare landscape that was never designed with them in mind. At BCNA, our Purpose is to stand for all Australians affected by breast cancer. We want to ensure that everyone can access the care, dignity, and understanding they deserve.
✨ Our 2025–2030 Strategy: Putting lived experience at the centre
For more than 25 years, BCNA has fought to ensure that women's lived experience isn’t an afterthought, it’s the blueprint for action.
Our new five-year strategy strengthens this commitment. It sets a bold direction to ensure our:
- support is stronger
- advocacy is louder
- reach is wider
- impact is deeper
❤️ I believe that the people we serve are the heartbeat of our organisation. This strategy represents their voices, their stories, and their needs.
👉 Explore the 2025–2030 Strategy
✨ Looking back to look forward
One of the stories that continues to inspire me is that of our founder, Lyn Swinburne.
In the year 2000, Lyn – mum, teacher, and fierce advocate – sat inside the Élysée Palace in Paris. Pen in hand, she paused for a moment, smiling nervously, before signing an international Charter in the presence of French President Jacques Chirac.
That moment was more than ceremonial. It marked the beginning of BCNA’s enduring commitment to global advocacy, to women’s rights in healthcare, and to building a future where equity isn’t aspirational, it’s expected.
