In August 2024, Women’s Legal Service WA joined with our loud and long champions of Working Women’s Centres to celebrate the inaugural establishment of a WA Centre, which Women’s Legal Service WA and Circle Green Community Legal are proud to be partnering to deliver. We are grateful to Janine Freeman, Helen Creed, and Sharryn Jackson for their planning of this event.
We also gathered to recognise the legacy and incredible achievements of Dr Judyth Watson. Judyth’s unique art collection, gathered over the years from around the world, was also on display, and we are honoured to now house these beautiful pieces in the Working Women’s Centre.
The artwork is a collection brought together by Dr Watson during her travels, and which depict women and the work that they do – whether in the workplace, in the home, or through a representation of the work itself. It demonstrates the working experiences of women through history, and is a profound representation of the important, and yet often undervalued, ways in which women have made working contributions to society.
About Dr Judyth Watson
Dr Judyth Watson dedicated her life to social justice, community service, and politics. Her ongoing contributions to Australia and Western Australia through advocacy, volunteering, and campaigning have had a profound impact on countless lives, solidifying her enduring legacy of community support.
Born in 1940, Dr Watson began her career as a triple-certified nurse and earned a doctorate in workers’ compensation. This expertise enabled her to become the first full-time Occupational Health and Safety officer at the Federated Miscellaneous Workers Union. She played a crucial role in developing national OH&S legislation and policy, with state legislation benefiting greatly from her extensive research and advocacy. Dr Watson remained devoted to this field throughout her life.
In 1986, Dr Watson entered politics as the member for Canning. Over her 11-year tenure, she held significant portfolios, including Aboriginal Affairs, Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs, and Women’s Interests. She also was the first woman to chair a select committee. Her unwavering advocacy for reproductive rights, equity in parliament, Aboriginal justice, and workers’ health continues to resonate today. Notably, she led a solidarity campaign that successfully eliminated the requirement for women to wear skirts and dresses in parliament.
Dr Watson retired from politics in 1996, but her commitment to the community did not end there. In 2000, when the government released 2,000 refugees from detention in Perth and Brisbane without support or access to employment and medical care, she swiftly formed a support group. This initiative eventually evolved into the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees and CASE, which has since merged into Circle Green. These organisations have provided vital support to thousands of individuals since their inception.
Dr Judyth Watson’s unwavering commitment to social justice, community service, and advocacy aligns seamlessly with the mission of the Working Women’s Centre. The Working Women’s Centre WA will provide vital, free, and confidential support to women of all ages, helping them navigate workplace issues. This Centre will also advocate for critical policy changes to combat workplace harassment and discrimination. Together, Dr Watson’s legacy and the Centre’s mission reflect a profound commitment to empowering women and fostering a more equitable, just and safe society.