5 things to know today

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1. Estonia to get the first female Prime Minister

Pending approval from lawmakers, Kaja Kallas will be elected the very first female head of government. The Baltic nation of 1.3 million people will now have a gender-balanced new Cabinet, with women as both head of state and head of government. Six women were also appointed as ministers.

2. New digital platform launched for female health

Former British rower Baz Moffat, Dr Bella Smith and former Olympic sport scientist Emma Ross are aiming to help women and break taboos around female health. The Well was born as the three realised that data and research on how women function is largely missing from the health and fitness disciplines. It covers breast support, pelvic floor muscles, urinary incontinence, menopause and periods, in an attempt to bridge the knowledge gap for women.

3. Maya Weug to become the first female inductee into Ferrari’s driver academy

After winning the FIA’s inaugural Girls on Track – Rising Stars programme, 16-year-old Maya Weung will be the first female driver to join the Ferrari Driver Academy. Maya’s arrival is indicative of the Scuderia’s commitment to making motorsport inclusive for women and more gender balanced.

4. Maternity leave-takers accusing UK government of discrimination

75,000 women who took maternity leave between 2016 and 2019 received less earnings because payments from the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS) have been worked out based on average profits. The charity ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’ is bringing a judicial review for indirect sexual discrimination. Founder and CEO, Joeli Brearley, said that SEISS calculations breached the anti-discrimination provisions of the Human Rights Act.

5. Exemption sought under the Anti-Discrimination Act to advertise for a female-only training program for waste truck drivers.

A 2019 report found that women make up a miniscule 26% of the Australian transport industry workforce and only 17% of the road transport sector. This long-standing male-dominated field is being critiqued for not having a pathway for women wanting to join the industry. The Ipswich City Council argued there are socio-economic barriers women face when obtaining the Heavy Rigid licence and the significant costs involved and is seeking an exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act to advertise a female-only training program.

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