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Paralympic Champion Madison de Rozario to Bring Inspirational Story to Brisbane Audiences for International Women's Day 2025

UN Women Australia

[BRISBANE, 12 October 2024] - Paralympic gold medallist and world record holder Madison de Rozario will be live in conversation at UN Women Australia’s International Women's Day (IWD) event in Brisbane on 7 March 2025, with tickets on sale today.

De Rozario, a four-time Paralympic gold medallist and Commonwealth Games champion, will bring her inspiring story of perseverance and achievement to the Brisbane stage. Beyond her athletic achievements, de Rozario is known for being a powerful advocate for inclusivity and representation in sports.

"I’m honoured to join UN Women Australia’s IWD event in Brisbane to participate in this important conversation about equality - its relevance and impact in all our lives and careers - including sports,” de Rozario shared.

De Rozario contracted transverse myelitis at the age of four, which resulted in paralysis from the waist down. Despite this significant challenge, she began wheelchair racing at 12 and made her international debut by 15, becoming the youngest athlete on the Australian Paralympic Team at the Beijing Games in 2008. 

The Brisbane event will also feature a live broadcast from Sydney, where comedian and social media sensation Celeste Barber will deliver her keynote address. Barber, known for her viral #CelesteChallengeAccepted campaign, will add her signature wit and incisive social commentary to the day's proceedings.

Simone Clarke, CEO of UN Women Australia, shared, "De Rozario’s journey champion is truly inspiring.  With Celeste Barber joining us live from Sydney, we have a truly powerhouse lineup of for our Brisbane audience.”

Taking place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event is expected to draw thousands of attendees in celebration of International Women's Month in 2025, marking the 30th anniversary of the UN Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for gender equality.

UN Women Australia's IWD events are among the largest in Australia and provide an important opportunity to raise much-needed funds to support and empower women and girls globally.

“This event is an important milestone, a celebration, and a call to action for all Australians to join us and March Forward for a more inclusive future," Clarke added.

Tickets for the March 7 event in Brisbane are available now at iwd.net.au.

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Key Facts:

About Beijing+30

Considered the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by the United Nations in 1995 and set forth an ambitious agenda for achieving women's empowerment across 12 critical areas, from economic empowerment and political participation to climate action and media representation.

Read the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

About us:

UN Women Australia is a non-profit organisation committed to achieving gender equality for all women, empowering them to contribute their unique knowledge and skills to help create a better world for themselves, their families and their communities. Working in over 100 countries across the globe, UN Women runs vital programs that provide women and girls access to technology, training programs and safe spaces, empowering women and girls to obtain an education, become leaders in their community and build a brighter, more equal future for us all.

Contact details:

Jessica Lewington

External Engagement Manager
UN Women Australia
Jessica.lewington@unwomen.org.au
+61 2 5112 2060