27 March 2012
The University of South Australia is celebrating having been named an Employer of Choice for Women by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency(EOWA) for the 10th consecutive year.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Høj says the citation demonstrates that UniSA has made family friendly policies and support for women’s careers an integral part of the culture of the university.
“To secure this citation for the 10th year shows there is something more than just ticking boxes about our commitment to women in the workforce,” he said.
“Supporting women’s choices and their needs so that we can enhance their career potential is core to the culture of our institution,” Prof Høj said.
Winner of the gold award for Public Sector Employer of the Year at the 2005 Australian Council of Commerce and Industry and Business Council of Australia (ACCI/BCA) National Work and Family Awards, winner of the National ‘Diversity@work Award’ for Work/Life Balance in 2006 and acknowledged as a breastfeeding friendly workplace, UniSA has also been a strong performer in the EOWA citations.
“Each year the bar is raised and each year we also aim higher too and we do that because investment in our people ensures we are in the best position to retain and attract top staff,” Prof Høj said.
“When employees feel they are valued and that their contribution is supported at all stages of their careers the institution continues to benefit from their experience and talents.”
In addition to the Federal Government’s Paid Parental Leave Scheme, UniSA provides 16 weeks at 100 per cent of the staff member’s ordinary rate of pay plus an extra 12 weeks at 50 per cent of their ordinary rate of pay.
Under UniSA’s phased-in return to work provisions, a staff member returning after maternity, adoption or child rearing leave, is able to work a reduced fraction (0.6 for a full-time staff member) and be paid their full-time salary for a period of eight weeks whilst they transition back into paid work.
Staff with less than 12 months service prior to the expected date of birth or adoption are eligible for a week at 100 per cent of their ordinary rate of pay and one week at half their ordinary rate of pay for each month of service. UniSA also offers 15 days’ partner leave.
Other benefits include flexible work options for the care of a child where the child is under school age, or is under 18 and has a disability.
In the event of the long term illness of a child, partner or parent staff can access their entire personal leave entitlement for caring.
Access to unpaid adoption leave has been extended to a child under 16 years of age and UniSA has also introduced pre-adoption leave of up to two days unpaid, to attend interviews and examinations required as part of the adoption process.
UniSA also offers a range of specific women’s development programs to provide opportunities to engage in constructive development activities and to link their individual learning needs with organisational priorities.
Professor Høj says UniSA will continue to strive to develop a workplace that supports and values the vital contribution that women make to achieving the university’s shared goals.
“This citation is welcome recognition of the work that we continue to undertake,” he says.
Media contact
- Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au
- Kelly Stone office (08) 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au
