Research centre to build gender equality at work
A new multidisciplinary research centre designed to build a gender equal future of work was launched by the University of Sydney Business School last night.
Dean of the Business School, Professor Leisa Sargent officially launched the Centre, praising the outstanding work of its strong academic team.
“As a business school we have a profound responsibility to lead on matters of economic and social importance, and to partner with industry, government and civil society to produce excellent research with significant societal impact. This is exactly the mission of this Centre,” Professor Sargent said.
The Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work leverages several decades of research expertise at the University of Sydney on women’s working lives. It offers unique, research-informed insights, and produces targeted and effective gender equality interventions.
Senator the Hon. Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance, Women and the Public Service, delivered the inaugural Gender Equality at Work Lecture at the Centre’s launch. The lecture will be delivered annually by an individual making positive change in workplace and workforce gender dynamics.
“As ministers, we understand deeply the power of research and evidence to better understand our society and our economy, and how to use that information to help tackle the inequality that exists.
Good research leads to better decision making, better policy and better outcomes, so no doubt as we continue the work before our government, we will be relying heavily on the Centre to help inform us with our work.
Newly-elected University of Sydney Chancellor David Thodey AO FTSE, who sits on the Centre’s Advisory Board, spoke about the importance of the Centre to the university’s strategy.
“The University of Sydney aspires to produce excellent research that tackles the greatest challenges and contributes to the common good. Gender inequality is a great challenge, but here we have an opportunity to improve women’s working lives and ensure the economic prosperity of all Australians,” Mr Thodey said.
Centre director Professor Rae Cooper AO said an action-oriented, practical approach is needed to promote decent work for all Australians and to build gender equality.
“Our research to date has delivered nuanced findings about the barriers to, and enablers of, women’s workforce participation and thriving careers.
“Our work in the new Centre is focused on delivering the data, insight and tools that will build capacity of employers, government, union and civil society organisations to deliver structural change in the labour market toward gender equality,” Professor Cooper said.
Deputy Director Professor Elizabeth Hill said the establishment of the Centre is an opportunity to expand the scale and scope of research, providing an institutional profile that is attractive to government and industry partners.
“Partnerships with the Centre provide an opportunity to develop precise and actionable insights tailored to different worker types, occupations, industries, and demographic groups, and to support responses at scale.
“We’re also proud to invest in the next generation of clever, well-trained and highly motivated postdoctoral scholars committed to driving positive change,” Professor Hill said.