SDG5 Gender Equality
At CQUniversity, we're committed to working towards a better future and actively participates in, coordinates and drives a range of initiatives and activities that align to SDG 5 Gender Equality.
Explore the information on this page to find out more.
Gender Equality - Commencements and Graduations
CQUniversity tracks and monitors student data including commencement and graduations by gender. This data assists the University in identifying possible areas of emerging disparity and helps to inform future strategic and practice directions. In 2021, 61% of our total student cohort were women.
From 2015 to 2020, on average, 53% of CQUniversity's student population commencing courses each year were women. Comparatively, our graduate cohort has an average of 51% of women completing their courses each year.
Scholarships, Mentoring and Targeted Support
As a student at CQUniversity, you will find mentoring and scholarship opportunities available to you. These form part of our student support initiatives that help enhance your experience with us and your career opportunities when you graduate. Aligned to themes of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 Gender Equality these opportunities include women's access schemes. Explore a sample of the women's access schemes available in 2021.
WinTECH STEM Club
WinTech (Women in Technology) STEM club at CQUniversity is committed to improving gender disparity in Science Technology, Engineering and Maths + Computing (STEM+C) education, and in doing so STEM+C workshops and mentoring opportunities are hosted every year for young and mature women across the community. These workshops are conducted in response to bringing change in STEM education, making female students more interested and more confident in taking up STEM+C subjects as their career.
Future Female Conference
The Future Female Conference is an annual event to connect and empower international students in Victoria is going virtual and hopes to reach its biggest audience yet despite COVID-19 challenges. The sessions are Transition into Workplace Culture in a Globalised World and a Mentoring Masterclass with education and business leaders including CQUni International Business Development Manager Alison Gutierrez.
Women in Agri-Tech
The ‘Women in Agri-tech’ project will create and foster a strong network of females who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM and entrepreneurship in regional, rural and remote areas. They will be guided and mentored by female researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs to develop engaging learning resources which will, in turn, inspire girls in the classroom to realise the opportunities available to them..
QMentorship - QMusic Women In Music program
CQUniversity Associate Lecturer and Creative Arts Technician Patty Preece have been named as a mentor in this year’s QMentorship - QMusic Women In Music program, to support young women in the music industry.
Ally Program
There is an Ally Program Network on Moodle as a connection point for any student who would like to be involved, with resources, links, and forums. It is a place for students to access support and get in contact with an Ally.
CQUni is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for all students with a zero tolerance approach to bullying and discrimination. As part of this, we have implemented an Ally Program to promote acceptance and understanding for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) students.
There is an Ally Network on Moodle as a connection point for any student who would like to be involved, with resources, links, and forums. It is a place for students to access support and get in contact with an Ally.
CQUniversity is committed to providing all staff and students with a safe, supportive and respectful place to work and study. Physical, sexual or online violence, assault, harassment or bullying, against any individual or group will not be tolerated. Our commitment to personal safety and wellbeing means we are proud to support the national Universities Australia Respect. Now. Always campaign. This campaign highlights the determination of Australia’s universities to ensure that our students and staff are safe from violence, sexual assault and sexual harassment. CQUniversity has developed a comprehensive Action Plan as part of the Respect. Now. Always. campaign, that aims to address and prevent sexual harassment and assault, by raising awareness, changing attitudes and behaviours, and developing a culture that values and practices respect.
Outreach Programs Targeting Women
CQUniversity participates in outreach activities and collaborations to encourage increased participation by women in areas where they are historically underrepresented. Explore stories of our activities, workshops and projects that occurred in 2019 and 2020.
The ‘Women in Agri-tech’ project will create and foster a strong network of female teachers who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM and entrepreneurship in regional, rural and remote areas. They will be guided by female researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs to develop engaging learning resources which will, in turn, inspire girls in the classroom to realise the opportunities available to them.
Women in Agri-Tech offer a range of programs and events for students and women in agriculture. This includes the Pitch Competition and the free access to twelve learning modules suitable for Year 7-12 students featuring agri-tech tools and systems which were written by the participants of the Women in Agri-Tech Project
This project aims to provide more inclusive workplaces and employment opportunities for migrant women in regional Queensland. Led by CQUniversity academics Professor Denise Wood AM and Dr José van den Akker, and Dawn Hay from CQMA, the project seeks to identify the enablers and barriers to employing women from diverse backgrounds and to help employers develop more inclusive strategies.
Delivered in Nepal, the Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship workshops aimed to support women to overcome a tradition of patriarchal structures to forge success as entrepreneurs and business leaders, particularly in the tourism and trekking industries. In recent years, this success has been nurtured by CQUniversity academics Dr Wendy Hillman and Dr Kylie Radel, who have made frequent visits to the mountainous nation.
CQUniversity through appointed social innovation ambassadors called “Change Champs” has partnered with Nepal-based social enterprise, Seven Women, for project collaboration and global study experiences. Seven Women has helped thousands of disadvantaged and disabled women through education, training, health and income generation programs.
The Seven Women range is available through the Bookshop thanks to a collaboration with the Office of Social Innovation, and every purchase supports women in Nepal through education, training, health and income-generation programs.
With only one-quarter of students studying STEM in Australia being women, CQUniveristy aims to inspire young women to pursue careers in science through programs and events including Whitsunday STEM Challenge and the 2021 CQU Qld Pedal Prix Super Series. Events such as these work to change society's gender assumptions about scientists and increase the public visibility of women in STEM.
CQUniversity's annual Festival of Change is an online and on campus event celebrating and inspiring social innovation. The 2021 launch event, Female Champions of Sustainability showcased a panel of female innovators and entrepreneurs and aimed to inspire other women to create change by sharing their experiences and achievements.
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research (QCDFVR) is based in Mackay and contributes to the prevention of domestic and family violence by informing, promoting and supporting the actions of individuals, communities, services and governments through state-wide leadership in research, professional development, education and community engagement.
The following research programs were delivered in 2021:
- Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum
This was the 17th Annual Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum hosted by QCDFVR. The forum featured presentations and workshops on research, prevention, trauma, and healing.
- Domestic Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury Forum
Hosted by QCDFVR, this half-day forum featured the issue of domestic violence and brain injuries.
POLICIES
Explore the CQUniversity policies that align with SDG 5 Gender Equality:
Our Code of Conduct (Code) provides guiding principles and standards requiring CQUniversity employees to work with integrity, diligence, honesty and respect to deliver the University’s aim to be a great university. The Code reflects the commitment of our University to ensure fair and ethical behaviour in an institution dedicated to the pursuit of enquiry and academic excellence, engagement with people and ideas, as well as equity and diversity amongst our students and employees. In delivering this commitment within a truly great university, we operate in accordance with our organisational values as well as abiding by the Federal and State ethics acts, the Human Rights Act 2019 Qld and other relevant legislation, and the Academic Board Position Statement – Academic Freedom. We do this not only because we are legally obligated to do so, but because it is right and just.
At CQUniversity, we do not accept any form of discrimination including discrimination towards women and transgender people, this is outlined in our Workplace Harassment, Workplace Bullying and Unlawful Discrimination Policy and Procedure, our Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedure and our Code of Conduct.
The workplace harassment, workplace bullying and unlawful discrimination policy and procedure outline how that reporting discrimination for educational or employment disadvantages are protected.
Our Parental Leave Policy and Procedure outlines the maternity and paternity leave policies available to CQUniversity staff.
CQUniversity's Equity Policy ensures that we take all necessary steps to create a safe, fair, equitable and inclusive learning and work environment. It ensures that no matter your ethnicity, religion, disability or gender you have access to activities, programs and opportunities provided and delivered by CQUniversity. This policy also guides us as we take a positive role in informing and educating students and staff of their rights and responsibilities in fostering a learning community that values equality. We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation in any form.
CQUniversity is a university of access and opportunity, and the tertiary institution of choice for a diverse cohort of students from all around Australia and the world. At CQUniversity, all students, regardless of their background, gender, location or career aspirations, are welcomed and supported to participate fully in education, training and university life, and to achieve their personal goals. CQUniversity's Student Participation, Retention and Success policy supports this mission.