Women are around 70% of the AEU's total membership. The AEU has a long history of focussing on issues of particular concern to women and recognises the need to protect past achievements and to build on them in the interests of gender equity and social justice. The page tells you about our policies, priorities and campaigns of particular concern to women.

The AEU acknowledges that despite the majority women enjoy within the education sector, women are still faced with barriers, (promotional and otherwise) discrimination and challenges based on gender. We therefore maintain an integral level of advocacy, support and campaigning around issues that effect women in education, via a women's program. And we demand equality of realities as well as opportunities for women within all areas of our profession.

At the Federal level, key aspects of the AEU Women's program include the annual Federal Women's Conference, the development of national policies and strategies, and participating in the work of the ACTU Women's Committee and other relevant organisations and activities. Women's Officers from the Branches/Associated Bodies form the Federal Women's Committee which has responsibility with the Federal Women's Officer for organising the annual AEU Federal Women's Conference.

Each of the Branches and Associated Bodies of the AEU has a Women's Officer who coordinates the women's program within their state/territory. You can access more information about activities in your state/territory.

This page includes links to pdf documents. You may need to download Adobe Reader.

Contents

What's New

• Female Genital Mutilation
  The Australian Education Union expresses shock at the consideration being given by Australian doctors to perform Female Genital Mutilation. It is a breach of human rights, it is child abuse and it is illegal in Australia for good reason.

  AEU policy is clear.  “In the case of human rights abuses associated with Female Genital Mutilation there can be no equivocation.”

  We urge the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetricians to abandon the notion of assisting in (and legitimising) this barbaric practice and instead join with the community in a renewed effort to condemn, oppose and stop FGM.

• The AEU is Campaigning for Pay Equity - which unfairly and persistently impacts women's working lives, their families, their choices and the prosperity of their countries.

• AEU Girls Tool Kit

• Body Image – found to continually be of concern for AEU members, this section has a series of resources from across the country

• Rosemary Richards Scholarship
  Applications for the 2010 Rosemary Richards Scholarhip have now closed.

• Work/Family Balance - Paid Maternity Leave and including the AEU Submission to the Productivity Commission

• Policies

• Conferences

• Federal Government Financial Advice for Women

• International

• Australian Human Rights Commission and 25th birthday of the Sex Discrimination Act

• Local Branch and Associated Body Activities/Campaigns

  

  Campaigns

• Gender Equity - Boys' Education and Male Teachers
  
• Women in TAFE - other information.
• Women @ Unions The AEU has produced "Women @ Unions" a template for change which seeks to give a feminist perspective to the ACTU "Unions @ Work".
• "Building the foundations of our future" This also includes an article by Michaela Kronemann and the Executive Summary.

  

  Information and Resources

• Body Image

• The Australian Human Rights Commission has developed a series of Education Resources which members may find useful.

  Specific information exists for students on gender and Workplace Issues including:

    -	Sexual Harassment
  
    -	Pregnant and Productive: It's a right not a privilege to work while pregnant
  
    -	Stretching Flexibility: Enterprise Bargaining, Women Workers and Changes to Working Hours
  
    -	The Equal Pay Handbook
  
    -	Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors: Barriers to the careers of women 

  There is also a specific Getting to Know the Sex Discrimination Act: A guide for young women which contains a lot of useful information around gender equality.

• Australian Catholic University Parental Leave Agreement
• New Zealand Introduces Paid Maternity leave

  

  Conferences

• 2009 AEU Federal Women's Conference
• AEU Federal Women's Conference (prior to 2009)
• ACTU Congress/Women's Congress

  

  Policies
  

  Gender Equity (as adopted at Federal Executive, May 2008)
  Women in Education (as adopted at 2008 Annual Federal Conference)

  

  Rosemary Richards Scholarship

  Scholarship Concept
  2007 Rosemary Richards Scholarship article Women in Education - Generation Next
  

  

  International

  On 18 December 2008 the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Government Office for Women released Women's Human Rights, an educational kit of fact sheets about the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

  International Women's Day
  Australian Human Rights Commission
  UNIFEM
  Alisi Fusi Wightman Scholarship - Council of Pacific Island Education (COPE) support for women
  APHEDA beer girls campaign
  

  
  Local Branch and Associated Body Activities/Campaigns