Gender Equity - Is it Fair? Staff Forum (Audio)

'Gender Equity - Is it Fair?' Forum

Friday 24th September 2004.
Keynote speaker - Pru Goward,
Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
and Keynote speaker: Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue, AC, CBE
Indigenous Leader and Honorary Professorial Fellow at Flinders University

About the 2004 Forum

2004 marked the 20th anniversary of Australia's Federal Sex Discrimination Act, an opportune milestone for both celebrating our achievements on the path of gender equality and considering the challenges that lie ahead. In her address, Commissioner Goward highlighted the advances and outlined the responsibilities, opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, in particular those challenges that go with increased workforce participation.

Professor O'Donoghue explored gender equity issues for Indigenous Australian people relating to employment and education - recent changes, current state, future directions - based on her personal and professional interests and experiences.

In 2004, the subject of the Forum was open to all Flinders staff and the Vice Chancellor encouraged male as well as female staff to attend.

Annual Forums are part of the University's range of strategies employed to consult with women at Flinders. They provide an opportunity for women on staff to get together and to raise issues. They are organised by the Women's Consultative Committee (WCC), whose key term of reference is to consult with women in the University.

The annual women's forum is the Women's Consultative Committee's major activity. An important part of the forum program is devoted to discussion groups, which provide an opportunity for women to say to the University whatever they want. Facilitators encourage participants to think laterally and encourage wide-ranging discussion. Recommendations or issues that are raised at the forum are considered throughout the year by the WCC. Many of them are addressed in affirmative action plans, or by the Committee on Equal Opportunity or at the enterprise bargaining table.