SDG5 Gender Equality
Explore the information on this page to find out more.
Gender equality – commencements and graduations
We track and monitor 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 our 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
Our students are availed many mentoring and scholarship opportunities. These form part of our student support initiatives that help enhance their experience and career opportunities when they 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.
We participate in outreach activities and collaborations to encourage increase participation by women in areas where they are historically underrepresented. Explore stories of our activities, workshops and projects that occurred in 2022.
- Indigenous Girls Academy- A CQUniversity-led program works with young girls at Mount Morgan State High School and Baralaba State School to encourage them to stay in school.
- Women Who Weld- The program aims to build gender diversity in the workplace and address Australia's trade skill shortage by exposing young women to welding.
- Reframing Our Future- this innovative program empowers women to imagine and design the careers they want, that meet the needs of a changing world.
- WinTech Society- The Women in Technology (WinTECH) Society has developed free online workshops teaching students skills in data science using Excel and Python software. The workshops encourage students to choose STEM career paths.
- Women in Agri-tech project – a project that aimed to create and foster a strong network of female teachers who will become leaders in digital literacy, STEM, entrepreneurship in regional, rural and remote areas.
- Women in STEM – with only one-quarter of students studying STEM in Australia being women, we aim 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.
- Women in Innovation and Sustainability – our 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 of 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.
- Girls STEM Camp – we hosted over 40 female high school students from account the region and on Curtis Island, promoting courses and seagrass restoration research. CMERC researchers ran an activity with the Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre.
- Seven Women – our university 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.
We are 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.
Outreach programs targeting women
We participate 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.
Policies
Explore the policies that align with SDG 5 Gender Equality.
Our 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 our university. 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.
