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USC named Employer of Choice for Women
25 February, 2005
The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has been named an 'Employer of Choice for Women'.
The award, from the Federal Government Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), recognises the University as a workplace that supports female staff by providing a positive and flexible environment.
USC was the only Sunshine Coast organisation to be named in a list of 15 Queensland based organisations and one of only 115 Australia-wide.
Organisations awarded the citation were required to actively recognise and address the needs of their female workers to enable them to reach their full potential.
Dean of the Faculty of Business, Professor Deborah Ralston, said it was the first time the University had applied for the award.
"We were pleased to receive the award on our first application. It was a very thorough process with every aspect of the University's policies and procedures for recruitment, employment, promotion and equity examined," Professor Ralston said.
"The award recognises the hard work the University has put into ensuring equitable opportunities for staff," she said.
USC Human Resource Director, Mark Nugent, said the University is the only one in Australia with promotion policies for both academic and general staff, ensuring equity across all occupational groups.
"The University is a major employer on the Coast and many positions are in the administrative area," Mr Nugent said.
"It is important that all staff are offered the same opportunities for development and promotion."
To be an 'EOWA Employer of Choice for Women' an organisation needs to demonstrate effective policies and procedures that support female staff, and have management frameworks in place that promote an inclusive and cooperative culture.
USC Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Thomas, said the award was a major recognition for the University.
"This EOWA award shows that the University's processes for promoting equity within our workforce are among the best in Australia," Professor Thomas said.
"It also recognises the University's commitment to being an inclusive workplace that has delivered improved outcomes for its female employees."
"Many universities focus only on their academic staff but we have taken the initiative and established a process that also encourages the promotion of our general staff."
The award, which is valid for 12 months, will also help USC continue its track record of attracting the best staff in Australia to the University.
"We will be able to use the EOWA logo in our recruitment advertisements promoting the University as an employer of choice for women," Professor Thomas said.
USC has previously been recognised for having the highest proportion of academic staff with Doctoral or Masters degrees of any other Queensland institution and the fifth highest in Australia.
USC has 355 employees (not including casual employees)
215 are female (61 per cent) and 140 male (39 per cent)