The spirit of partnership & collaboration

At this time of the year, many of us are lucky enough to take a few days away from our regular routines to spend time with our loved ones. We try to make the most of the precious time we have with our nearest and dearest. And for those of us who work away from home, we treasure the much needed break.

But it’s also worth remembering that, in good times and bad, most of the year our workplace colleagues, stakeholders and partners are like a second family. That family may be dysfunctional at times. It can disappoint us. It can take us for granted. It can also support us, inspire us and give us direction.

Partnerships and collaborations make our work more effective. They support and sustain us. Sometimes they challenge us. But it’s clear that together we are stronger and together we achieve greater outcomes for migrant and refugee women. That’s what we’re here for. We’re so proud of our partnerships and what we learn from them.

This year, our anniversary gave us an even clearer perspective on the large extended MCWH family that has supported and nurtured us. At our gala, we recognised the work of twenty-one amazing women who have shaped, and continue to shape, our organisation. But of course, the list is much longer than that. It’s actually a list of thousands. From the partnerships we form with other organisations to the women who call to request information or arrange an education session, our work is nothing without the relationships that we work to build and sustain.

We wish we could personally thank each and every woman we have met through our education sessions over the last 40 years. We also wish we could thank every person behind the scenes, organising the venues, setting up the rooms, inviting the educators in. And we wish we could thank all the women and peers we look up to and admire, who inspire us to new heights and new ways of thinking.

This year, we were able to document one of our close research partnerships with Dr Cathy Vaughan at the University of Melbourne. We invite you to watch the short video below, celebrating the spirit of partnership that we have been so fortunate to work in with so many.

Although we couldn’t document them all, we would like to thank all our other partners, with whom we share equally valuable and productive relationships. We’d also like to express our gratitude and appreciation for our Board, our communities, our staff and, of course, everyone who requested and joined our sessions or training, who all gave so much energy, enthusiasm and support to our work.

There are too many people and organisations to thank for sharing this forty-year long journey with us. And it’s not over by any stretch!