What does safety really mean for women and girls — at home, at work, online, culturally, and in the places we move through every day?

Finish the day with an opportunity to meet new friends and mentors and exchange ideas and stories by joining us for a session of the popular WOW speed mentoring, followed by some free music and a chance to grab a glass and wind down after the 3 days of Festival activities!

Join Natalie Stokell and Kate Tomsett from Women’s Health and Equality Queensland for an informative, practical, and fun session on looking after yourself in everyday life. Explore mental health and mental wellbeing, meaningful ways to care for yourself, and how to support community wellbeing. If you’ve been feeling stretched or overwhelmed, this is a space to pause and refocus.

WOW Bites Session 2

An audience favourite, WOW Bites are short talks, readings and soapbox moments on a wide range of subjects designed to inspire, engage and introduce new ideas from local women and festival guests.

What does Cairns mean to you—and what should its future become? 

Help shape the places—and futures our young people will inherit, by responding to guided prompts about home, place, wellbeing, belonging and opportunity.

We have been talking about workplace gender equality for decades. What will it take to take the next leap forward?  

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer joins WGEA CEO Christine Castley OAM for a candid conversation about where Australia has made progress, where the biggest opportunities now lie and why advancing gender equality may require all of us to challenge some of our own assumption

Led by Pauline Lampton, Artistic Director of Miriki Performing Arts, this immersive workshop invites participants to explore the connection between identity, culture and movement through the inspiration of totem animals.

A conversation held amid The Ghosts of Lani Mulgrave Blair exhibition to explore the importance of history as we look toward the region's future, through the eyes of Yidinji women.

What would change if women and girls were believed the first time? Facilitated by Balveen Ajimal, Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Health and Equality Queensland, this conversation explores what women and girls deserve to know about their bodies, and why so many are still forced to fight for answers.

WOW Bites Session 1

An audience favourite, WOW Bites are short talks, readings and soapbox moments on a wide range of subjects designed to inspire, engage and introduce new ideas from local women and festival guests.

More details to come

Join proud Gimuy Walubara Yidinji woman Evie Evernden for a unique workshop that combines the grounding practice of traditional weaving with mindful breathing and connection.

What does Cairns mean to you—and what should its future become? 

Help shape the places—and futures our young people will inherit, by responding to guided prompts about home, place, wellbeing, belonging and opportunity.

Money is about more than numbers. How we think, feel and behave around money can influence the choices we make every day and the future we create.  Join Alaina Woolcock and Jacinta Tim So, founders of The Money & Mindset Circle with LainaJaye, for an interactive workshop exploring the connection between money, mindset and financial confidence.

Join Guugu Yimithirr and Butchulla artist, educator and cultural facilitator Susan Reys for a reflective and engaging WOW Healing Space exploring the ways we show up in our relationships, communities and everyday lives

The year is 2046, twenty years since the great societal, environmental and financial crash, known today as the ‘Great Cock Up’ in 2026; resulting in countries across the globe electing women-led governments to re-build and re-frame their societies, putting citizens back at the heart of decision-making and power-broking. Hear from four leading Cairns based change makers on what FNQ looks like in 2046 as a consequence, facilitated by host of ABC Big Ideas Natasha Mitchell.

The WOW Cairns Festival Marketplace is free for all to attend!  Featuring local artisans, women-led enterprises, community groups and service providers, performances and free workshops.  Come along and grab something to eat, be serenaded by a diverse range of Cairns creative talent, learn a few new dance moves and definitely do some shopping!  

We’ll kick off festivities with a welcome address by Traditional Custodian, Henrietta Marrie AM and performance by the Yidinji Women's Dance Troupe, representing the Traditional Owners of Gimuy/Cairns.

Join Tanya Smith from Queensland Walks and Zonta Club of Brisbane for She Walks Here, a walking conversation exploring how women and girls experience local streets, parks and public spaces as part of the Safe Cities for Women and Girls project in Cairns. Share your insights, learn and discuss practical ways to create safer, more inclusive and walkable communities, that benefit women, girls and everyone else.