Image Above: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
As a teenager, I was incredibly outspoken about my political beliefs. To the point where it became a bit of a persona. Bringing up the lack of equal representation of women in the government was one of my favourite ways to derail a class. I got in fights in Instagram comment sections about the rights of refugees, and was even called a “feminazi” on the tram by a student I had never met from the boys’ school across the road.
Ultimately, it was isolating. I felt like I was trudging up a big hill, by myself, carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, with no one to lighten the load. If only I had found Rosie. A space where calling out injustices wasn’t meant with resentment but with encouragement. Where the opinions of a girl are championed, and a community of other young feminists is waiting, ready to lift you up.
And now I am the editor of Rosie! Connecting with the community of inspiring young people, hoping to uplift this next generation of feminist killjoys.
The 2025 theme for the International Day of the Girl is: The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis.
Inspiring girls to lead and giving them the resources to fight back is Rosie’s specialty.
Across the world, girls are stepping up to fight for better opportunities for themselves and a better future for all. Rosie provides these trailblazers with the knowledge and experience they need to become effective leaders, and a community behind them ready to support their journey.
Image: Canva
Rosie’s origin story
Created in 2013 to address a lack of reliable resources designed to empower and uplift young women, Rosie was designed to face the growing rate of young people turning to algorithm-driven and misinformation-riddled social media for information and support. This is ever more so the case in 2025, as more and more young people’s questions are being answered by profit-driven corporations or engagement-seeking influencers.
Young girls, women and gender diverse people face a plethora of issues today. From cost-of-living to climate anxiety, and gender inequality. Rosie is as important as ever.
According to the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing in 2020–22, 34% of young women and girls aged 16-24 experienced high or very high psychological distress. This is almost double the rate of young men and boys.
Issues that affect girls, like shame and stigma around menstruation, and gender-based harassment and abuse, can have wide-reaching effects on young women’s lives. Empowering information on such issues can be difficult to locate.
Targeted and empathetic resources are required to intercept isolating, shame-based narratives that permeate the digital world and young girls’ experiences. They deserve this support, and Rosie is determined not to leave them behind.
Rosie is based on a tradition of iconic feminists. Inspired by Rosie the Riveter, the powerful image from the Second World War. Rosie operates under the guidance of the Victorian Women’s Trust and is an initiative of the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls, a national institution working to carry out strategic harm-prevention projects that increase women’s strength through resilience. Named after the suffragette Henrietta Dugdale (1827-1918), a nonconformist, provocative and quick-witted pioneer and inspirational advocate for the rights of Australian women.
Image: Rosie the Riveter
Resources that make you think
Our curated and well-researched articles offer a wide range of answers on every topic relevant to growing minds. Rosie is consistently vetted to ensure our articles are relevant to the experiences and concerns of young people today.
Our four themes are:
We are a one-stop shop for all matters growing up. Designed for an audience of 13 to 20, we cover topics that young feminists will face in their youth.
From a breakdown of superannuation to deconstructions of social theories like colonisation and intersectionality, Rosie invests in the staggering intellect of young feminists.
Meaning that this generation of young people can be informed and inspired to create a more just society. A safe space of intellectual and practical growth, Rosie is like a trusted older sister.
Nurturing young writers
We encourage young people to write an 800-word blog for Rosie on any topic they feel passionate about. These young feminists will develop their writing skills and will receive $100 for their work. Their blog will be featured on our website, newsletter and social media pages.
Working closely with the Rosie team during the editing process, these young writers have the opportunity to hone their skills and develop their activist voice in a supportive and encouraging environment. Rosie is a platform for young activists to build their resumes and kickstart their careers as disruptors.
Image: Canva
Fighting back against loneliness
Providing access to a diverse range of support services, we ensure that vulnerable youth are connected to the organisation that is right for them. With articles that break down common misconceptions about mental health, Rosie actively deconstructs stigma and taboos. We empower young people with an understanding of the importance and accessibility of meaningful support.
Connecting to a community of young activists, Rosie is an answer to rising rates of loneliness in young people.
Empowering young feminists through knowledge and action, we fight back against pervasive sentiments of helplessness that are all too common today.
Answering an ever-growing need in our current climate of misinformation and social detachment, Rosie empowers young people through a community of feminist action. We kickstart their journey of activism by letting them know that they are not alone.
Can you think of a young person in your life who would benefit?
Find out more at Rosie.org.au
Photo by Fred Farquhar (suppl
Ava Wansbrough is a Project Officer at the Victorian Women’s Trust (VWT) supporting a range of digital initiatives. With a background in Gender Studies, Ava’s work program includes editing, research, content creation, and copywriting for feminist youth platform, Rosie; and coordinating promotional outreach for VWT digital inclusion project, Rural Women Online.
