• Charles Sturt recognised as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation holder for the third year
• The Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces
• The University continues to demonstrate its commitment to gender equality

Charles Sturt University has been awarded an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation from the Commonwealth Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for the third year!

The EOCGE citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces, with the voluntary program aiming to recognise leading practice and compliance with the standards in the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon said being awarded this citation again is continued recognition of the high importance Charles Sturt places on gender equality.

“I am proud that Charles Sturt University has once again received a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation,” Professor Leon said.

“Being awarded this citation is recognition of the deliberate, strategic actions we have taken to drive positive change towards gender equality, as can be seen by our recent improvement to carers and parental leave arrangements.

“A commitment to action on gender equity is a priority for Charles Sturt that we have embedded across the University.”

Organisations must re-apply annually to retain their EOCGE citation, with criteria covering leadership, learning and development, gender remuneration gaps, flexible working and other initiatives to support family responsibilities, employee consultation, preventing sex-based harassment and discrimination, and targets for improving gender equality outcomes.

Professor Leon said the citation is recognition of the University’s Workplace Gender Equity Strategy (2018-2022), which contains policies and plans to ensure:

• the complete removal of unnecessary gendered terms in policy and procedures by the end of 2022
• ongoing communication regarding the rights and responsibilities of our staff, and ensuring the University’s workforce is fully informed in areas such as flexible working conditions and leave entitlements
• Unconscious Bias and Inclusivity training across all Charles Sturt campuses to assist staff in learning these strategies and increasing their awareness.
• Leadership Development for Women (LDW) through networking, mentoring and scholarships

Charles Sturt was among the first Australian higher education institutions to be awarded the Athena SWAN Bronze Institution Award, an accreditation framework that provides a roadmap for institutions to address gender equity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.

ENDS