Women

Employer of Choice for Women

For the ninth consecutive year, the University of Sydney is an Employer of Choice for Women.
Visit the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency website to find out more about this prestigious citation.
Read the announcement

International Women's Day presentation

Professor Marian Baird canvasses the issues of female identity, education and reproduction and the implication for women’s income security over their life cycle in a speech titled Blue Stockings, Babies and Bank Balances.

Breastfeeding on campus

These guidelines assist staff and students to maintain and balance breastfeeding with their employment responsibiliities or study requirements.

Women in the workplace

Overall, more women than men are employed at the University of Sydney. The University has a range of programs and strategies in place to support and promote the careers of female staff. As an Employer of Choice for Women, it has a demonstrated commitment to proactively addressing issues of equity in employment such as the gender pay gap and representation of women in senior leadership roles. Family-friendly policies are regularly reviewed to continue to improve workplace diversity.

Fellowships for female academics

The University awarded five Thompson Fellowships in 2012. These provide academic employment opportunities for women at Levels C and D and prepare them for roles at Levels D and E, where they remain significantly underrepresented.

Two Brown Fellowships were also awarded. Open to university researchers whose careers have been interrupted by sustained primary caring duties, they aim to assist recipients to re-establish or enhance their academic research careers.

Read the University News article featuring the recipients of the 2012 Equity Fellowships.

Work and family flexibility

The University provides a range of leave and flexible working arrangements in order to attract and retain staff members and foster inclusiveness in terms of gender, age, disability, economic status and culture.

Welcome to Women orientation

The University runs a ‘Welcome to Women’ orientation program, providing information particularly relevant to new female staff to complement the more general orientation program. Listen to the presentation

Revised Academic Promotions Policy

The Academic Promotions Policy has been revised to ensure that applicant achievements are able to be more easily assessed relative to opportunity. It has been recognised that factors such as part-time/fractional employment, significant parenting or other caring responsibilities, or clinical responsibilities, may affect employment opportunity. Promotions committees need to assess achievements in the context of the applicant’s opportunity (in most instances, fewer opportunities) to undertake tasks relative to other members of staff at an equivalent level. Find out more

The WiSci Project - careers in science

The Division of Natural Sciences' Women in Science Project aims to encourage more women into senior academic roles and support women to achieve satisfying and productive careers in science.

Women in Leadership program

The specifically targeted Women in Leadership suite of programs fosters the professional development of women who aspire to, or are in, leadership or management roles at the University. It includes guest speakers sharing their career highlights and how they have negotiated barriers to female achievement. Find out more

Negotiating and influencing skills for senior staff

In response to feedback from senior female staff, the University has organised a professional development program for women on negotiating and influencing skills. Recognising the need for more equitable representation of women at Levels E and D and at Level 10 and above, the program targets women at the levels immediately below these. 2012 dates for this program are to be confirmed. Queries: email the

The University of Sydney - Staff and Student Equal Opportunity Unit