Goal #5 Gender Equality | Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

45%

female co-founders of �ʹڲ�Ʊ startups

In 2023, �ʹڲ�Ʊ was surpassing the national average of 22.3% female co-founders for startups.

4

Cygnet Awards for gender equity

�ʹڲ�Ʊ has been awarded with four of five Cygnet Awards the SAGE Athena Swan program for gender equity.

$2.6m

for women engineers

�ʹڲ�Ʊ and the Sir William Tyree Foundation offered A$2.6 million in scholarships to women engineering students from the lower-SES area of Western Sydney.

In this video, Professor Eileen Baldry and Professor Leisa Sargent break down some of the key challenges behind SDG #5.

Athena Swan Cygnet Awards

�ʹڲ�Ʊ is one of 42 institutions participating in the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena Swan program. We have a commitment to advancing all women students in STEMM through SAGE Athena Swan and other gender equity programs.

After achieving the Bronze Award in 2018, �ʹڲ�Ʊ began work on the next phase of the program, the Cygnet Awards.

�ʹڲ�Ʊ has been awarded four of five��available SAGE Cygnet Awards for:

Gender Equity in STEMM
Flexible Work and Care
LGBTQIA+ Inclusion
Student Pathways (STEMM).��

Our next goal is to achieve Silver Accreditation in the program.��

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Our work

Australia’s first women’s trauma recovery centre

�ʹڲ�Ʊ co-designed Australia’s first Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre, with $25 million in government funding. The centre addresses the long-term impacts of domestic, family and sexual violence and provides health care, legal support, financial counselling and advocacy to women in need.��

First to attend university scholarships

�ʹڲ�Ʊ’s $500,000 Margaret Elias Equity Scholarships, in partnership with Urban Property Group, supports two women each year who are the first in their family to attend university to undertake a bachelor's degree in the built environment.

Global Feminism: Mona Eltahawy

On International Women’s Day (IWD), �ʹڲ�Ʊ hosted a public discussion on global feminism with Mona Eltahawy, one of the world’s most prominent feminists. Mona discussed feminism as a global movement that fights for the rights and equality of women everywhere.��

How men came to rule:��Angela Saini��

In a public discussion hosted by �ʹڲ�Ʊ, British author Angela Saini spoke about the history of the patriarchy and how it varies across countries and cultures, and what a future looks like where women are emancipated from the shackles of history.��

Australia's first female astronaut:��Dr Meganne Christian

At National Science Week, �ʹڲ�Ʊ hosted this fascinating public chat with alumna Dr Meganne Christian, Australia’s first female astronaut and the University’s Astronaut in Residence for 2023.��

Actions against gendered violence��

Students on the main walkway at �ʹڲ�Ʊ Kensington.

Stop. Empower. Support.

�ʹڲ�Ʊ is committed to preventing gendered violence and creating a safer campus through prevention and support strategies.

Annual Report

�ʹڲ�Ʊ has a responsibility and a unique opportunity to prevent and respond to reports of gendered violence, ensuring the safety of our community.

Consent explained

Consent matters every time. Everyone deserves respect and bodily autonomy. �ʹڲ�Ʊ is committed to a safe, respectful environment for all.

Student campaign

By raising awareness of the GV Portal, we aim to ensure that everyone at �ʹڲ�Ʊ can access the support they need.

Gendered violence strategy grants

In 2023, �ʹڲ�Ʊ awarded grants of up to $5000 to 11 projects that foster a safer and more respectful campus.

The Gendered Violence Research Network

The Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN) is a joint initiative of �ʹڲ�Ʊ Arts, Design & Architecture and �ʹڲ�Ʊ Law & Justice. Our network unites �ʹڲ�Ʊ’s significant domestic and international research expertise to respond, prevent and end gendered violence in Australia and beyond. GVRN is at the forefront of developing solutions to prevent gendered violence – one of the most prevalent human rights violations affecting our world today.

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Tackling economic and financial abuse linked to domestic and family violence

A partnership between �ʹڲ�Ʊ’s Gendered Violence Research Network and Commonwealth Bank is raising awareness around groups at greater risk of economic and financial abuse.

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Speaking out with Grace Tame

In March 2022, Grace Tame��joined �ʹڲ�Ʊ academics Kyllie Cripps, Michael Salter and Emma A. Jane for this �ʹڲ�Ʊ Centre for Ideas panel discussion on the��catalytic power of collective women’s voices, achieving better education on sexual abuse and Grace's aspirations to continue to hold those in power to account.

Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida: How Many More Women?

Hear Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida in conversation with Jane Caro for a powerful and accessible exploration of our legal systems - as they break open the big judgments, developments and trends that have and continue to silence and disadvantage women. The �ʹڲ�Ʊ Centre hosted this event for Ideas in October 2022.��

Pathway to politics��

�ʹڲ�Ʊ is a partner in the Pathway to Politics program, which helps increase women and non-binary representation in politics through workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities.

New Wave

The��New Wave program addresses the under-representation of��women in entrepreneurship by empowering �ʹڲ�Ʊ students, staff or alumni who identify as women to launch startups.

She Can

She Can is run by women, for women. With resources and��webinars featuring some of the most inspiring �ʹڲ�Ʊ athletes it provides��a safe space and supportive environment to stay fit and active on campus or from home.

Women in Research Network

�ʹڲ�Ʊ's leading forum for research-active women to connect and collaborate to build an equitable and inclusive research culture at �ʹڲ�Ʊ.

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�ʹڲ�Ʊ Women's Collective

An autonomous intersectional-feminist collective focused on activism, education and community organisation.

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Women’s Wellbeing Academy

Five projects were awarded funding from the 2022 WWBA Small Grants Program.

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Scholarships for women

�ʹڲ�Ʊ has various programs to support women to enrol in STEM subjects, including the Women in STEM Equity Scholarship program. We also have scholarships that support women with a background of educational disadvantage or financial hardship to become STEM graduates.��

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Career Advancement Fund

Funding is available for women academics to re-establish and advance their careers following parental or adoption leave.��

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Women in Senior Leadership

This webinar discusses empirically based strategies for increasing the number of women in senior roles across education and STEM focused industries. The panel also highlights various research and industry examples that show how to effectively increase female leadership positions in the workplace.

"The Leadership" Panel Discussion

This webinar discusses documentary which highlights the experiences of women who participated in the inaugural Homeward Bound Project and the systemic inequities they face as women in STEMM.

Gender and Data Science

This webinar tells the story of data science and artificial intelligence and the panel discuss how underlying biases can result in unintended consequences when not accounted for.

�ʹڲ�Ʊ Strategy in Action 2025

The �ʹڲ�Ʊ Strategy in Action 2025 commits to ensuring equity in staff recruitment, development, retention and promotion, particularly ensuring no disadvantage on the basis of gender, cultural background, disability or Indigenous origin. This includes a commitment to providing outstanding support and development opportunities for all who work and study at �ʹڲ�Ʊ as well as promoting these values in our external interactions.

50%

of female professional staff at level 10 and above by 2025.

40%

of female academic staff at levels D & E by 2025.

Gender studies

Gender studies at �ʹڲ�Ʊ is a vibrant, cross-disciplinary area of study that situates women, feminism, gender, sex and sexualities at the centre of academic analysis. Scholars teach and research across a wide span of areas, including world history, human rights, sex and desire, women’s writing, Asian cultures, and queer and gender theory.

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Transforming Women’s Leadership Pathways

The Transforming Women’s Leadership Pathways program exists to dramatically shift the dial on women’s equity, and to broaden pathways to leadership for women by 2030.

Panel Pledge

An initiative of the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, Champions of Change Coalition, and Chief Executive Women that aims to increase the visibility and contribution of women leaders in public and professional forums.

Career Coaching for Carers (3C)

The program supports academic women, including sessional staff and post-graduate students, with current or recent carer responsibilities to develop their careers and address the disadvantages many have experienced due to COVID-19. 

�ʹڲ�Ʊ Sustainable Development Goals 2023 Report

This report��outlines �ʹڲ�Ʊ's performance against the SDGs in 2023.

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