Deakin Women 2018 photo exhibition celebrates International Women's Day

The Deakin Women 2018 exhibition, which will be launched at events held at Deakin's Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Melbourne Burwood and Warrnambool campuses, follows the University's recent citation as Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) by Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).

Deakin is one of only 120 workplaces in Australia to receive this prestigious honour for 2018, marking the University's 11 consecutive citation.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander AO said Deakin was committed to advancing gender equality within the University sector.

"We are proud of the leadership, collegiality and collaboration of women at Deakin, many of whom are breaking new ground in research, scholarship and professional practice," Professor den Hollander said.

"While there has been considerable progress in gender equity, there is still great inequity in wages and in the proportion of women in positions of influence, and women are still earning less than men for the same work.

"The factors leading to unequal outcomes for men and women are complex, varied and require real effort to change. It is a wicked problem, but there is much we can and will do to advance gender equity.

"Universities are especially obliged to act, having a role not only as employers, but as educators of students and of the wider community. We have a responsibility to be fearless and lead the way."

The Deakin Women 2018 photographic exhibition, launching this International Women's Day Thursday 8 March, showcases the unique hobbies, passions and research of Deakin women through a series of images ranging from the candid to the surreal.

Professor den Hollander said the empowerment of women was a key focus for the University, with strategies currently underway to translate the Deakin Gender Equity Plan (2017-2020) into meaningful action.

"Deakin aspires to be Australia's premier university in achieving equal representation, recognition, reward and value of staff irrespective of gender," the Vice-Chancellor said.

"Every member of the Deakin Executive has an objective related to reducing the pay gap and ensuring a better balance of gender and diversity in their portfolio."

Deakin Equity and Diversity Director Mel Martinelli said the University had already taken a range of actions to address the issue.

"We have introduced unconscious bias training for senior managers, as well as funding for researchers who are primary carers to attend conferences and maintain continuity through periods of extended leave," Ms Martinelli said.

"We are also conducting investigations into Workload Allocation Models, career progression and job satisfaction, with a view to identifying the disadvantage faced by those of diverse genders, sexualities and women from diverse cultural backgrounds.

"Additionally, Deakin is one of 40 universities and research organisations participating in the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena SWAN charter, a pilot program to improve gender equity and diversity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine."

Deakin Women 2018 is launching at every campus on International Women's Day, and will then be running from 13 to 29 March at Deakin's Burwood Library Gallery.

More information, including registration details and stories of the featured subjects, is available via the Deakin website.