Macquarie University has today been recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), for its progress towards gender equity.
Criteria met by the University to achieve EOCGE recognition includes 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.
"I am very proud of this achievement," said Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton. "It places Macquarie as a leader in gender equity initiatives and has a positive impact on our whole community.
"Our aim is to fix the causes of inequality, not the symptoms. So rather than operationalising one-off initiatives, we have focused efforts on actions for long-term systemic change."
Professor Dowton also credited the work of Macquarie's Gender Equity Self-Assessment Team (GESAT) and Diversity and Inclusion teams for their ongoing work in empowering staff to build an open, diverse and supportive workplace: "Our approach to gender equity has been highly collaborative, involving colleagues across the University, which has been key to our progress."
"Since its inception in 2014, the WGEA EOCGE citation has provided a rigorous and evidence-based guide for employers to chart a course towards achieving gender equality in their workplaces," said WGEA Director Libby Lyons. "This year, we strengthened the eligibility criteria by placing even greater emphasis on accountability, outcomes, evidence and internal reporting processes.
"I'd like to congratulate all of our 2019-20 EOCGE citation holders for the extra effort and commitment it has taken to meet these additional rigorous requirements. All these organisations are at the forefront of the momentum for change towards gender equality in Australian workplaces. These industry leaders are showing other Australian businesses how to create a better and more equal future for both women and men."
