SDG 5: Gender Equality
In 2023, UNSW was surpassing the national average of 22.3% female co-founders for startups.
UNSW has been awarded with four of five Cygnet Awards the SAGE Athena Swan program for gender equity.
UNSW and the Sir William Tyree Foundation offered A$2.6 million in scholarships to women engineering students from the lower-SES area of Western Sydney.
Athena Swan Cygnet Awards
UNSW is one of 42 institutions participating in the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Athena Swan program. We have a commitment to advancing all women students in STEMM through SAGE Athena Swan and other gender equity programs.
After achieving the Bronze Award in 2018, UNSW began work on the next phase of the program, the Cygnet Awards.
UNSW has been awarded four of fiveÌýavailable SAGE Cygnet Awards for:
- Gender Equity in STEMM
- Flexible Work and Care
- LGBTQIA+ Inclusion
- Student Pathways (STEMM).Ìý
Our next goal is to achieve Silver Accreditation in the program.Ìý
Our work
Global Feminism: Mona Eltahawy
On International Women’s Day (IWD), UNSW hosted a public discussion on global feminism with Mona Eltahawy, one of the world’s most prominent feminists. Mona discussed feminism as a global movement that fights for the rights and equality of women everywhere.Ìý
How men came to rule:ÌýAngela SainiÌý
In a public discussion hosted by UNSW, British author Angela Saini spoke about the history of the patriarchy and how it varies across countries and cultures, and what a future looks like where women are emancipated from the shackles of history.Ìý
Australia's first female astronaut:ÌýDr Meganne Christian
At National Science Week, UNSW hosted this fascinating public chat with alumna Dr Meganne Christian, Australia’s first female astronaut and the University’s Astronaut in Residence for 2023.Ìý
Actions against gendered violenceÌýÌý
The Gendered Violence Research Network
The Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN) is a joint initiative of UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture and UNSW Law & Justice. Our network unites UNSW’s significant domestic and international research expertise to respond, prevent and end gendered violence in Australia and beyond. GVRN is at the forefront of developing solutions to prevent gendered violence – one of the most prevalent human rights violations affecting our world today.
Tackling economic and financial abuse linked to domestic and family violence
A partnership between UNSW’s Gendered Violence Research Network and Commonwealth Bank is raising awareness around groups at greater risk of economic and financial abuse.
Speaking out with Grace Tame
In March 2022, Grace TameÌýjoined UNSW academics Kyllie Cripps, Michael Salter and Emma A. Jane for this UNSW Centre for Ideas panel discussion on theÌýcatalytic power of collective women’s voices, achieving better education on sexual abuse and Grace's aspirations to continue to hold those in power to account.
Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida: How Many More Women?
Hear Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida in conversation with Jane Caro for a powerful and accessible exploration of our legal systems - as they break open the big judgments, developments and trends that have and continue to silence and disadvantage women. The UNSW Centre hosted this event for Ideas in October 2022.Ìý
Pathway to politicsÌý
UNSW is a partner in the Pathway to Politics program, which helps increase women and non-binary representation in politics through workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
New Wave
TheÌýNew Wave program addresses the under-representation ofÌýwomen in entrepreneurship by empowering UNSW students, staff or alumni who identify as women to launch startups.
She Can
She Can is run by women, for women. With resources andÌýwebinars featuring some of the most inspiring UNSW athletes it providesÌýa safe space and supportive environment to stay fit and active on campus or from home.
Women in Research Network
UNSW's leading forum for research-active women to connect and collaborate to build an equitable and inclusive research culture at UNSW.
UNSW Women's Collective
An autonomous intersectional-feminist collective focused on activism, education and community organisation.
Women’s Wellbeing Academy
Five projects were awarded funding from the 2022 WWBA Small Grants Program.
Scholarships for women
UNSW has various programs to support women to enrol in STEM subjects, including the Women in STEM Equity Scholarship program. We also have scholarships that support women with a background of educational disadvantage or financial hardship to become STEM graduates.Ìý
Career Advancement Fund
Funding is available for women academics to re-establish and advance their careers following parental or adoption leave.Ìý
Women in Senior Leadership
This webinar discusses empirically based strategies for increasing the number of women in senior roles across education and STEM focused industries. The panel also highlights various research and industry examples that show how to effectively increase female leadership positions in the workplace.
"The Leadership" Panel Discussion
This webinar discusses documentary which highlights the experiences of women who participated in the inaugural 91³ÉÈ˰涶Òôward Bound Project and the systemic inequities they face as women in STEMM.
Gender and Data Science
This webinar tells the story of data science and artificial intelligence and the panel discuss how underlying biases can result in unintended consequences when not accounted for.
UNSW Strategy in Action 2025
The UNSW Strategy in Action 2025 commits to ensuring equity in staff recruitment, development, retention and promotion, particularly ensuring no disadvantage on the basis of gender, cultural background, disability or Indigenous origin. This includes a commitment to providing outstanding support and development opportunities for all who work and study at UNSW as well as promoting these values in our external interactions.
50%
of female professional staff at level 10 and above by 2025.
40%
of female academic staff at levels D & E by 2025.
Gender studies
Gender studies at UNSW is a vibrant, cross-disciplinary area of study that situates women, feminism, gender, sex and sexualities at the centre of academic analysis. Scholars teach and research across a wide span of areas, including world history, human rights, sex and desire, women’s writing, Asian cultures, and queer and gender theory.
UNSW Sustainable Development Goals 2023 Report
This reportÌýoutlines UNSW's performance against the SDGs in 2023.
