ACU named employer of choice for gender equality

ACU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Greg Craven. Photo ACU.

ACU has been recognised as a leader in workplace gender equality for the seventh consecutive year.

The Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation, awarded by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.

WGEA Director Libby Lyons said that the agency had awarded a record 140 EOCGE citations in 2019 with all citation holders united by their determination and commitment to achieving workplace gender equality. 

“I congratulate all of these organisations for being agents of change, leading the way forward for other Australian employers to follow,” Ms Lyons said.

ACU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Greg Craven, said the citation was a strong endorsement of the progress ACU was making to improve gender equality in the workplace, cementing the University’s reputation as an equal opportunity employer.

“ACU is an attractive employer because of our commitment to embedding gender equality in our culture through the workplace supports we provide our people. To again receive this recognition is an extremely satisfying result and reflects the progress of our Gender Equality Strategy (GES) 2015-2020.

“We are proud to once again be recognised as a leader of gender equality in the sector,” said Professor Craven, who is also a Pay Equity Ambassador.

ACU continues to progress the achievements of its GES by:

• Improving gender balance across the organisation and in leadership roles: 64 per cent of managers are women and ACU’s peak governing body has achieved gender parity.
• Committing to flexible work practices.
• Addressing the issue of pay equity by committing to an annual pay gap analysis and acting to correct pay inequities.
• Increasing leave provisions to 10-days paid leave for staff experiencing domestic violence creating awareness and breaking down the stigma around this important issue.

Criteria for the citation cover leadership, learning and development, gender remuneration gaps, flexible working and other initiatives to support family responsibilities, employee consultation, preventing sex-based harassment and discrimination, and targets for improving gender equality outcomes.

On 8 March 2019 ACU will hold International Women’s Day events to celebrate the success of the University’s notable women Alumni. This provides an opportunity to hear about the women making a difference, bettering the balance and to stop and consider the work still required to achieve gender equality across all communities.

Source: Australian Catholic University