Celebrating Women in New South Wales: A Path to Equity
The Hunter has a rich history of empowering women and fostering gender equity. Women like Sue Murray, CEO of the Hunter Women's Centre, have empowered women through comprehensive support services, including counselling, legal advice, and educational workshops.
Similarly, Dr. Kirsten Molloy, former CEO of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator, has championed diversity in the mining industry, promoting women in leadership and inspiring young women to pursue STEM careers. These leaders exemplify the positive influence of dedicated advocacy and inclusive policies on advancing gender equity in our communities.
This NSW Women’s Week and International Women’s Day on Saturday, 8 March, is a timely reminder of the many incredible initiatives and organisations supporting women's advancement in various fields across our region. Newcastle celebrates the achievements of local women through events like the Newcastle Women in Business Awards, which recognise the contributions of women in business, leadership, and community service.
As Chair of the NSW Women’s Advisory Council and the University of Newcastle Chair in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, I am proud that our community is taking real and meaningful action.
Equity remains heavily instilled in the core values of our University, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Over this time, the University has stood behind and nurtured innovators, pioneers, and new ideas to continue helping our region move forward. Our commitment to facing the challenges head-on, promoting equity, diversity and inclusion under our Gender Equity Plan, and through programs encouraging women to pursue STEM careers and academic and leadership roles exemplifies this cause.
I am deeply honoured to celebrate International Women's Day in 2025.
This day is more than a time to acknowledge the incredible achievements of women in our region and around the country—it's an invitation to pursue genuine equity for all people actively. We have achieved many milestones as a community, but we know there is still much to be done.
The reality is that despite these accomplishments, we confront the issues that persist. The gender pay gap remains a pressing concern, with women earning, on average, less than their male counterparts for equivalent work. Leadership roles in business and government within our state are still disproportionately occupied by men, limiting diverse perspectives in decision-making processes. Most alarmingly, domestic and family violence continues to affect women across Australia, cutting across all social and economic boundaries.
These challenges are not solely women's issues—they are issues that affect every resident. We hinder our collective potential when we fail to include and empower women fully. The untapped ideas, innovations, and solutions that women bring are essential to addressing the complex problems we encounter as a region and a nation.
I spoke this week at the March Forward – Respect in Action event at NSW Parliament with one of Australia’s most influential leaders in gender equality, Kate Jenkins. It was a wonderful discussion that filled me with inspiration. Kate’s vision of gender equity is to create environments where respect, inclusion and high performance are interwoven into organisations and workplaces. To get there, the way forward requires practical and actionable strategies.
So, we must transform our commitment to equity into concrete action. We must advocate for and implement policies that guarantee equitable pay for equitable work. Workplaces must adopt flexible arrangements that recognise and accommodate professional and personal responsibilities. We know that more women on average enrol in university degrees, with this figure tipping over 60% at the University of Newcastle. Still, we must continue to invest in education and mentorship programs within our communities that encourage more young girls to pursue science, technology, engineering, mathematics, politics, arts, and beyond—free from limitation.
It is worth noting that policy changes alone will not suffice. A cultural shift is required to dismantle the ingrained biases that encumber progress. This involves each of us reflecting on our attitudes and behaviours.
Are we challenging gender norms and calling out inequity when we see it? Do we actively support and uplift the women in our families, workplaces, and communities? Change begins with everyday actions.
I encourage everyone in our region to engage actively during Women's Week and International Women's Day. Attend local events, support organisations dedicated to women's advancement or start conversations that inspire others to think differently about gender roles. Each step we take contributes to a more inclusive and equitable society.
Equity is a path we embark on collectively. Let us all use this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment and take decisive steps towards a more inclusive society.
- Associate Professor Jill Duncan OAM
Read more about Associate Professor Duncan here.
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榴莲成人app下载 of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.