Ms Pru Goward reflected in her International Women’s Day speech (March 7, 2006) that after 21 years of sex discrimination legislation in this country that gender inequality is still an issue in the workplace. Australia is still well behind in many areas compared with North American and European countries. Statistics indicate that gender is still very much an issue in senior level appointments in many work venues. Ms Goward said, “Gender equality is crucial for two reasons - it is a fundamental human right; and an essential requirement for successful economic and social development. We cannot continue to ignore these basic truisms if our nation is to achieve its full potential.”

 

This relates well to the launch of a new initiative at CSU in February this year where 30 general and academic staff participated in the inaugural Leadership Development for Women Program at Bathurst Campus. The program’s clear objective is to equip women for leadership roles in our organisation preparing and supporting them for advancement to significant senior roles within the University.  Participants in the program will regroup several times through the year for workshops, peer learning and mentoring.

 

Interestingly one of our staff members Dr Jane Wilkinson has been working in the area of gender inequality in the Higher Education sector. She, like Ms Goward, found that women are not getting appointed to powerful decision-making positions. Class and race are also damaging opportunity.

 

Management views must be opened or widened to incorporate fresh perspectives. We must look to changes in processes and practices that should flow from the program so that we escape the charge of merely paying lip service to the challenge of equality and equity. The launch of the inaugural Leadership Development for Women Program has set the scene for all of us here at CSU where we are seeking to develop and enhance key areas in the University and amongst our staff.

 

The Banksia Program – Supporting Women in Research, run by our Centre for Research and Graduate Training has entered its third year. Almost a dozen researchers have so far been assisted through PhD Completion Scholarships valued at almost $40 000 as well as mentoring. This program is an important scheme designed to encourage and nurture women to participate in our responsibility to generate new knowledge and tap into the research network.

 

The University submitted a record 28 applications to the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Grant scheme for 2007. The applications for ARC funding cover the diverse range of research undertaken at CSU. Included are agricultural sustainability, ethics, education, health and policing. Congratulations to all the researchers for your efforts to generate new knowledge as well as to the University’s Centre for Research and Graduate Training for its support of the record number of applications. We expect to hear back from the ARC on the successful applicants in both the Discovery Grant and Linkage Grants towards the end of November.

 

 

The 2006 academic year began with the appointment of a new Minister for Education, Science and Training in Julie Bishop. I have begun liaising with her office portfolio and I look forward to working with Ms Bishop to promote our University and its standing in Australian society.  

 

I note in her address to the National Press Club in Canberra in February, the new Minister acknowledged the importance and impact of education on the lives of people, particularly young people. At the time, Ms Bishop said “teaching and learning and research are the fundamental, the essential, the enduring foundation blocks upon which our society is built”.

 

An initial review has identified that only minor refinements to the existing Divisional structures will be needed to support the University Strategy 2007-2011.  The consultation process for the restructure will close on the 24 April 2006. A decision will be made in early May for consideration by University Council at the meeting scheduled for June.

 

 

The Vice-Chancellor’s Forum (VCF) met in Bathurst on 21 and 22 March 2006.  The VCF discussed implementation of the University Strategy including the performance outcomes that the University wants to achieve in the period 2007-2011. The outcomes were endorsed by the VCF and will be recommended to University Council in April. When approved, the performance outcomes will be publicised on my website.

 

 

The Vice Chancellor's Forum agreed on the 5 year University plans that are needed to implement the University Strategy 2007-2011 and support the achievement of the performance outcomes. A key message of the VCF was that the plans need to be outcomes focused, aligned with the University Strategy 2007-2011 and developed through the collaboration of the Faculties and Divisions. It was determined that the four core University Plans that are needed to align with the Key Objectives are the Courses Plan, Learning and Teaching Plan, Research Plan and Institutional Development Plan. It was agreed that development of these plans would be aligned with the existing consultative and planning mechanisms of the University. Responsibility for coordinating development of these plans has been assigned and the draft plans will be brought to the VCF in July. 

 

The Forum also heard presentations on work process improvement, the new Charles Sturt University Enterprise Agreement 2005-2011 as well as the positioning, branding and reputation of the University. A working party has been established to provide me with recommendations in June.

 

 

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training Julie Bishop has advised CSU that we have satisfied the Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements or HEWRRs. As a result of this, and previous advice that we had satisfied the Governance Reform Requirements, we will receive an increase in the Commonwealth Grant Scheme, backdated to 1 January 2006. In her letter, Ms Bishop noted her appreciation for “the progress you have made in these reforms”. Complying with HEWRRs within the short time frame is a great outcome for the University. Our Director of Employee Relations, Mal Wilson recently told Campus Review, of our aim for active and open communication with staff throughout the process, which included almost 50 small group information sessions across the University. I want to congratulate everyone involved in this process and thank staff for your input, patience and support in assisting the University to achieve this favourable outcome.

 

 

While the temperature has now started to reflect the Autumnal time of year, the long hot Summer was one to remember. With this in mind, I must make a special thanks to the staff at the University who have worked in and around our facilities, our buildings and grounds to ensure they were well prepared for the 2006 academic year.