2008 Events
WWRG Seminars | November 2008
The Women+Work Research Group is pleased to announce that we will have two highly regarded international visitors in November: Ruth Milkman and Peter Berg.
- Download WWRG Seminar Flyer (
47Kb)
Adding from the top or building from the bottom: Local labor union strategies on work-life flexibility in U.S. and Australian Universities.
Peter Berg will be presenting a Faculty Seminar
Date: TBA
International research and comparative methodologies
Peter Berg will also be presenting a PhD Seminar
Date: 18 November 2008
Time: 11:45 am to 2pm (School Building)
Women and Work: Questions About the Past, Present and Future
Ruth Milkman will be presenting a PhD and Faculty Seminar
Date: 27 November 2008
WWRG Consultation with the National Foundation for Australian Women and Security for Women | 27 October 2008
Paid Parental Leave Consultation Morning*
On 29 September 2008, Australia moved a step closer to a mandatory paid parental leave scheme with the release of the Productivity Commission’s draft report entitled ‘Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children’.
The Commission recommended 18 weeks’ paid leave at the adult minimum wage that can be shared by eligible parents, with an additional two weeks of paternity leave reserved for the father (or same sex partner).
The Commission is currently seeking responses on the draft report which are due by 14 November 2008.
The purpose of this consultation is to discuss issues arising from the Productivity Commission’s draft report in order to assist responses.
Program:
| 9:45am | Registration and coffee |
| PART ONE | |
| 10:00am | Welcome: Associate Professor Marian Baird (USyd) |
| 10:05am | Overview: MarieColeman NFAW |
| 10:15am | Productivity Commission’s Recommendations: Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald |
| 10:40am | Questions to Commissioner Fitzgerald |
| PART TWO | |
| 11:00am | (Commissioner Fitzgerald departs) Small group discussions |
| 11:20am | Group feedback |
| 11:40am | Summary and conclusions |
| 11:55am | Closing words: Marie Coleman NFAW |
* This consultation is part of a national series coordinated by the National Foundation For Australian Women and Security For Women with funding from the Federal Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek.
Seminar | 1 August 2008
Generation F: Attract, Engage, Retain
The Women+Work Research Group and the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency hosted a seminar and panel discussion on EOWA's recent research report on "Generation F" into what women want from work. Covering issues such as women's ambition, pay equity and women and men's views of the 'boys club' and bullying and harassment, this research debunks many myths about women in the workplace.
For further information or to download the report go to http://www.eowa.gov.au/Information_Centres/Resource_Centre/EOWA_Publications/Generation_F/Media_Section.asp
| Presenter: | Anna McPhee, Director EOWA |
| Panelists: | Dr Sara Charlesworth, RMIT - Presentation ( 140Kb) Dr Lyn Craig, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW - Presentation ( 436Kb)Assoc Prof Marian Baird, University of Sydney - Presentation ( 310Kb)John Murray, University of Sydney - Presentation ( 43Kb)
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Conference | 20 June 2008
Workplace Research Centre (WRC) 2008 Annual Conference
| Date: | Friday, 20 June 2008 |
| Time: | 9.00am – 4.30pm |
| Venue: | Hilton, Sydney |
| Price: | Regular $895 – Early Bird - $750 – Student/Academic Price - $200 |
Keynote speaker: Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
This year the WRC's annual conference will bring together leading commentators and policy makers from industry, government agencies, and academia to discuss the challenges for organisations in securing their labour force for the future.
How will organisations address these issues in the changed political and industrial environment?
What policy initiatives should organisations have in place for mature aged workers, women, disadvantaged workers? What needs to happen with regard to skills and learning and achieving the elusive work life balance to ensure organisations secure the workforce they want and need?
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Topics include:
As well as overviews/policy on each topic there will be also be individual case studies |
Speakers include:
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Seminar | 13 March 2008
The Organizational Discourse Strategy and Change Group and the Women+Work Research Group invite you to attend a Seminar
Speaker: Yvonne Billing*, University of Copenhagen
Going beyond the male norm in management
| When: | Thursday March 13, 2008, 2:30pm - 4:00pm |
| Where: | Room 397 Merewether Building, University of Sydney |
Abstract
This paper reflects on the continuous comparison of male and female leadership and seeks to explore whether there are alternatives to such gender dualisms. On the basis of interviews with managers in Scandinavia (primarily women), I argue that we need to develop more sophisticated ways of capturing women's experiences. This would require moving beyond simplistic concepts of 'the male norm' and 'organizations are inherently gendered'.
*Yvonne Billing is a leading European scholar in the study of gender and organizations. She has co-authored (with Mats Alvesson) influential and much-cited titles such as Gender, Managers and Organizations (1994, de Gruyter) and Understanding Gender and Organizations (1997, Sage). Her current research program focuses on the critical evaluation of gender, management and leadership. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Copenhagen.
Colloquium | 7 March 2008
Women's Business - Current issues and future agendas
The day involved presentations on the latest research, debates, interactions with policy makers as well as participant projections of the future for women, work and life in Australia.
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, the Minister for the Status of Women, Commonwealth Government of Australia opened the colloquium. (Opening Address)
The Hon Verity Firth MP, Minister for Women, New South Wales closed the colloquium. (Closing Address)
The speakers and topics included:
Dr Brigid van Wanrooy, University of Sydney: Women at Work: Women's current status in the Australian labour market.
Meg Smith, University of Western Sydney: Gender Pay Equity Reform in Australia: What is the Way Forward?
Associate Professor Marian Baird, University of Sydney: Long Time Coming – Paid Maternity Leave in Australia, 2008
Dr Rae Cooper, University of Sydney: Women union leaders.
Associate Professor Bradon Ellem, University of Sydney: Women’s Union History: Revisiting a Century of Gender Struggle.
Dr Suzanne Jamieson, University of Sydney: The institutions of equality for Australian working women.
Dr Suzanne Ainsworth and Dr Leanne Cutcher, University of Sydney: Consuming to work: gendered ageism in the Australian labour market.
For further information about this research project, or if you would like to participate in a focus group, please contact Leanne CutcherProfessor Gabrielle Meagher and Natasha Cortis, University of Sydney: Australian women and welfare to work: Lessons from international experience.
Workshop | 15 February 2008
A Conversation with Professor Judy Fudge
Governing Work in the New Economy: Addressing Key Dimensions of Employment in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US.
Co-hosted by Belinda Smith and Shae McCrystal, Faculty of Law, and the Women+Work Research Group.
This half day workshop will focus on a new project by Professor Judy Fudge looking at the development of a new employment model across Australia, Canada, the UK and the US as a result of the decline of the Post World War Two model of standard employment. In particular, Professor Fudge is interested in how these countries are addressing key dimensions of employment, such as the scope of labour law (especially with respect to atypical employment relationships), attributing employment-related responsibilities in triangular employment relationships, working time and work-life balance, and collective representation at work.
| When: | Friday February 15, 2008, 1.00pm - 4:30pm |
| Where: | Minter Ellison Room, Level 13 Faculty of Law, University of Sydney, 173-175 Phillip St (cnr King St), Sydney, (Faculty of Law contact: Belinda Smith, Belinda.Smith@usyd.edu.au, 9351 0229) |
| RSVP: | a.page@econ.usyd.edu.au
Tuesday February 12, 2008 (Afternoon tea will be provided) |
Professor Judy Fudge is Professor and Lansdowne Chair in Law at the University of Victoria, Canada. Professor Fudge is a leading Canadian feminist labour law historian, having co-authored three books, co-edited three collections on feminism and labour law, and written innumerable articles and chapters covering labour law, labour history, pay equity and human rights at work.
2007 Events
Academic Roundtable | 20 November 2007
This Roundtable was hosted by the Women + Work Research Group in conjunction with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's (HREOC's) Sex Discrimination Unit at the invitation of Commissioner Broderick, the newly appointed Sex Discrimination Commissioner. The event marked the first Academic Roundtable in Commissioner Broderick's national 'Listening Tour', which is taking place from November 2007 to early 2008. Commissioner Broderick proposes to use the outcomes of this Tour to help formulate the agenda for her five year term.
The Roundtable was attended by academics from the University of Sydney, the University of Western Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the University of New England. It provided the opportunity for attendees to present their research relevant to the three themes of the 'Listening Tour', namely:
Economic independence for women;
Work and family balance over the lifecycle;
Freedom from discrimination, harassment and violence.
Commissioner Broderick will report back on the outcomes of her national Listening Tour to a Women + Work Roundtable scheduled for April/May 2008.
Following the Roundtable, the Women + Work Research Group joined with colleagues and guests to celebrate the actvities of 2007 and to thank Professor David Grant, Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Economics and Business, for ongoing funding support for 2008-2010.
Seminar | 24 September 2007
Women, Work and Welfare
This seminar was presented by Professor Patricia Apps, Sydney University Law School and Lyn Hatfield-Dodds, President ACOSS. Patricia presented her research on the disincentives to women’s work that are embedded in the tax system. This was followed by Lyn’s paper outlining women’s current experience of work and welfare, in particular the experience of single mothers as they negotiate the recent welfare to work reforms.
Taxation and Labour Supply (
369Kb)
Patricia Apps
Launch | 9 July 2007
Benchmarks for Work and Family Policies in Election 2007
- 2007 Benchmarks ( 85Kb)
- Reply to the Benchmarks by Gillian Calvert, Commissioner, NSW Commission for Children ( 15Kb)
- HEREOC press release in support of Benchmarks ( 10Kb)
The Australian Work + Family Policy Roundtable was established in 2004. It is made up of Australian researchers with expertise on work and family policy. Its goal is to propose, comment upon, collect and disseminate relevant policy research to inform good, evidence-based public policy around work and family issues in Australia.
Australia is approaching a new federal election. Work and family issues were key areas of policy contest in both the 2001 and 2004 federal elections. We expect that they will be again in 2007 based on recent statements of the leaders of both the major parties, as well as the pressing need for change to accommodate the changing nature of work and family in Australia. In the context of the forthcoming federal election, the Work + Family Policy Roundtable proposes a set of benchmarks against which policies for improving work and family outcomes in Australia from the various parties can be tested.
These benchmarks arise from our research expertise and are in keeping with the Roundtable’s goals of contributing to the development of good family policy related to work, producing clear policy guidelines and evaluating policy proposals. The general principles, objectives and membership of the Work + Family Policy Roundtable are set out at www.familypolicyroundtable.com.au.
Forum | 7 June 2007
It's About Time: Women, men, work and family
- Its About Time( 56Kb)
- Speech given by The Hon John von Doussa QC
The Women and Work Research Group at Sydney University and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) are presenting a forum with HREOC's President and Acting Sex Discrimination Commissioner John von Doussa QC and a panel of experts from business, academia and law:
It's About Time: Women, men, work and family
This is one of a series of community forums HREOC is holding around the country to discuss the findings of the women, men, work and family project. Following the Commissioner's presentation and a panel discussion we invite you to share your views about our proposals and the priorities for future work to help men and women better balance their paid work and family responsibilities.
The It's About Time Final Paper was released on 7 March. The Final Paper, community guide, feedback forms, and further information about the project is available at www.humanrights.gov.au/sex_discrimination/its_about_time/
Aspire To Be Inspired | Thursday 26 April 2007
The Official 85 Broads Launch in Australia
A panel of high profile speakers from a variety of industries will be discussing issues surrounding careers, life choices and goals. Find out how these women made it to where they are now and how they tackled difficult choices and achieved success!
Angel Place Conference Centre
123 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Thursday 26 April 2007
www.85broads.com
85 Broads Australian Launch:
- Sydney Invitation ( 100Kb)
- Agenda ( 104Kb)
Seminar | 11 April 2007
Spaces that Matter: Gender In/visibility, Materiality and the Poetics of Organizational Space
First International Seminar for 2007
The Women and Work Research Group was delighted to host this year's first international visitor seminar on Wednesday 11 April at Women's College. This follows a very successful international symposium hosted in September 2006 where Professor Peter Berg from Michigan State University discussed work and family in the United States and a research workshop in February 2007, which was lead by Professor Tom Kochan of MIT, on work, family, unions and the community.
At this year's international seminar, Dr Melissa Tyler, Senior Lecturer in Organizational Studies from Loughborough University in the UK, presented a fascinating paper, entitled "Spaces that Matter Gender In/visibility, Materiality and the Poetics of Organizational Space". Melissa's paper, which explored the way gender is performed and materialised in and through organizational spaces, resonated with a seminar audience drawn from a diverse range of Disciplines.
We were pleased to welcome to the seminar colleagues from Finance, Marketing, Education and Social Work, Nursing, Indonesian Studies and Work and Organisational Studies, as well as, visitors from the University of Western Sydney, the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University. Melissa's paper and presentation slides can be downloaded by following the link.
- Spaces that Matter: Gender In/visibility, Materiality and the Poetics of Organizational Space (Paper 151Kb)
- Laurie Cohen and Melissa Tyler
- Spaces that Matter: Gender In/visibility, Materiality and the Poetics of Organizational Space (Presentation
153Kb) - Melissa Tyler
Roundtable | 23 March 2007
Work Choices and impacts on women: Roundtable and discussion
Time: 9am to 12.30pm
Location: Women's College, Sydney University
- The emerging picture of women employees' experiences under Work Choices: latest research ( 276Kb)
- Marian Baird, Rae Cooper, Bradon Ellem
- Women's Pay in the Era of WorkChoices ( 218Kb)
- Chris Briggs
- Equal Opportunity Law in an era of Work Choices ( 36Kb)
- Belinda Smith
- Closing Plenary Session ( 46Kb)
- Summary
Workshop | 16 February 2007
Work, Family, Unions and the Community - The Issues and the Research
Tom's book 'Restoring the American Dream' outlines a blueprint for new social contract in the United States.
The seminar provided an opportunity to discuss these issues and their relevance for Australian working women, families and unions.
2006 Events
Seminar | 14 December 2006
Sex work and class mobility in the Riau islands
- Michele Ford
The islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun on the Indonesian border with Singapore and Malaysia have an extensive sex industry which caters predominantly to foreign visitors. This paper, written with Lenore Lyons, explores the place of ‘sex as work’ for women involved in the town of Tanjung Balai Karimun and the opportunities for class mobility it affords some women, for whom exposure to foreign clients in the brothels of Tanjung Balai Karimun is a chance to move out of sex work and into the lower middle class.
Dr Michele Ford is Chair of Indonesian Studies at the University of Sydney. Michele coordinates the Indonesian language program and teaches about social activism and human rights in the Southeast Asian region. Her research is focused on the Indonesian labour movement, transnationalism, and women and work in Southeast Asia.
Symposium | 20 September 2006
Women, Work and Family in the US; Australia: Pathways and Possibilities
- Associate Professor Peter Berg, School of Labor and Industrial Relations, Michigan State University, USA
- Anna McPhee, Federal Director, Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA)
- Sara Charlesworth, Senior Research Fellow, PVC Design & Social Context Global Studies, Social Science & Planning, RMIT University
- Marian Baird, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of Work & Organisational Studies (WOS) and Convenor, Women & Work Research Group
Changing demands at work, extended work hours and the rise of dual-earner couples are all contributing factors to work-life tension. American and Australian researchers will report on their latest insights into work and family policies and practices in the corporate world. They will discuss the extent and impact of flexibility policies and question if the practice of these policies indeed enables employees to successfully balance work and family commitments.
Suggestions for the Australian business community in terms of addressing women, work and family issues will be the focus of a panel discussion. Anna McPhee, Director EOWA, has recently returned from the international Catalyst conference in the US. She will discuss work and family pathways that are of relevance to Australian organisations. >>more
