Australian National Women's Library - changes to note
From July the Jessie Street Women's library is moving its administration office to the city. New headquarters will be at Cornelius Court, 1st Floor, 147A King Street, Sydney and the new postal address will be GPO Box 2656, Sydney 2001. Phone: (02) 555 9376. Until the old Marrickville Town Hall is ready for the library collection this will remain in the NSW Writers' Centre in the grounds of Rozelle Hospital. It is hoped that the city office will provide a venue for meetings, networking, lunch-time discussion groups, visiting speakers and the sale of secondhand books. The organisation is looking for volunteers to help staff the city office and would be pleased to hear from potential helpers.
Start thinking of nominees for 1996 for...
The Bette Wilson Award. Established by Women in Medical Science (WIMS) to honour the contributions of Bette Wilson to the profession of medical science. Those contributions include her significant role in promoting the role of women within medical science and education fields. The Award is to be given to recognise a significant achievement or service by a woman in the field of medical science. Applications for the award must be made on a nomination form available from WIMS by June 30 each year. Nomination forms and further information from the secretary of WIMS, Dr Patricia Tippett, Victorian Institute of Forensic Pathology, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, South Melbourne, Vic 3205. Phone (03) 684 4444.
Woman of the Year in a Non-Traditional Area. The National Centre for Women recognises and applauds women who have made outstanding achievements within a work or study area traditionally dominated by men. For the purpose of this award, non-traditional areas for women are defined as engineering, science, technology and management. Nomination forms and further information from National Centre for Women, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, Vic 3122. Phone (03) 214 8633, Fax (03) 214 8643.
Gender and the nature of work
A report to be released by DEET this year, entitled Critical Visions: rewriting the future of work education and gender, warns that simply educating women to make different vocational choices or to prepare themselves better for work will not of itself redress the gender segregation of Australia's workforce. Unless policy-makers and educational institutions rethink the very nature of work, paying particular attention to the social reasons behind women's concentration in 'unskilled' or part-time jobs rather than full-time 'careers', changing our vocational education and training system will not change the inequalities. Two factors needing to be addressed are the imbalance in the time men and women spend caring for home and family and the lack of recognition of 'women's skills' - communication, caring and interpersonal skills and the ability to do many things at one time - which are seen as 'natural' or a 'gift' rather than learned and work-related. Further information on the report from Anne Watt (06) 240 7023. [Source: The Gen]
Careers advice
'I tell women to do what men do: apply for jobs they think they've only a small or no chance of getting, even jobs they don't want or are not quite ready for, to signal that (a) they're ready to move and (b) to get some experience in job interviews. Women tend to wait for the job they want and only apply for a job when they think they're fully ready for it. So they apply for far fewer jobs than men and tend to be far better qualified when they do. But what happens is that some bloke who's really not any readier - in fact, is a lot less ready than many women - applies and gets a top job while the women are still waiting to feel ready. Or, the woman applicant with little experience in job-seeking gets her knickers into an amazing knot and stuffs up the interview. We've got to take on some of that male thing of having a go even if we're not feeling fully confident.' From Eva Cox, Distaff Associates, based on quotations from the Australian Financial Review of 20 September 1994. Thank you to WIE Melbourne for drawing this to our attention!
NSW Women's Register
The NSW Government is seeking expressions of interest from women suitable to serve on Government boards and committees. A computerised register of women who are suitable for part-time, non-executive appointments to boards and committees has been developed by the NSW Women's Consultative Committee and the NSW Premier's Department. Membership of the Register is being updated and expanded to ensure that it contains a broad cross-section of suitably qualified women. Applications are now sought for inclusion in the Register. In particular, the Government hopes to attract applications from women with knowledge of rural affairs and women with skills currently under-represented on the Register. These include retailing, transport, housing/construction, engineering, tourism and rural matters. For applications and further information please contact Sandra Stanghieri, Premier's Department, Phone: ( 02) 228 4657, Fax 02 228 3121.
Beijing update
The Non-Government Organisations Forum group in New York has so far processed 36,000 registrations. The Australian Government has publicly supported the NGOs in their push for a site closer to the official UN Conference than the Beijing proposal of a site over 50 kilometres away. Latest advice faxed from New York is that 'a satellite site in Beijing near to the UN World Conference site has been made available. This satellite site will enable both accredited and non-accredited NGOs to be close to the UN site for meetings with government delegates, consultations and briefings. This satellite site is in addition to the Beijing Recreation Centre which will be the base for accredited NGOs to lobby the World Conference'.
Networking opportunity
The East Coast Business Women's Network now has branches in Sydney, Parramatta and the Northern Beaches. For further information contact Robyn Henderson (02) 314 2603.
Towards greater equality in Australia
The National ('New Visions') Forum of Australian Peak Councils includes the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Coalition of Participating Organisations of Women (CAPOW), the Evatt Foundation (Secretariat), Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the National Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations (NCAO). Representing over five million Australians, this group met in Melbourne on 3 March 1995 to consider action to combat inequality in Australia and prepared the following statement.
The peak councils vow to work together to promote equality of opportunity for all Australians and to ensure that all Australians have a reasonable basic standard of living. The National Forum calls on the Australian community to be more active in combating inequality. The peak councils noted the increase in inequality that has occurred over the past twenty years and which has been part of a world wide trend. It also noted that government action has been an important factor in ameliorating this trend in Australia but more needs to be done to prevent growing inequality and poverty. The national forum calls for direct social, economic and environmental action to ensure all Australians have a decent standard of living and equitable opportunities in life and work both now and in the furutre. It identifies the Aboriginal community, sole parents, low income single non-aged people and low income couples with children as most likely to be in need of immediate direct support.
The National Forum identified nine priority areas for advancing the life and work opportunities of all Australians, namely Aboriginal health issues, economic growth, employment, taxation reform, poverty alleviation, superannuation, the Australian wages system, the social wage, and wealth, income & environmental accountability.
Further information from Tricia Caswell, ACF (03) 416 1455, Robert Fitzgerald, ACOSS (02) 372 0777, Jennie George, ACTU (03) 663 5266, Joan Kirner, Vice President, Evatt Foundation (03) 285 7312, Kevin Tory, NCAO (02) 267 1761 or Victor Rebikoff, FECCA (02) 267 9722.
Late recognition
It has taken over 60 years for French scientists and politicians to honour Polish-born chemist and physicist Marie Curie (1867-1934) with the sort of recognition given to 'great men', by moving her body to the Pantheon. Thus, belatedly, she adds to her list of firsts, others being first woman professor at the Sorbonne, first woman Nobel prize winner and first person to win two Nobel prizes. Although the unit of activity of radioactive substances was named the curie after her, she was denied membership of the Academie des Sciences and had to spend much of her later life trying to raise funds to continue her work. At the ceremony, President Mitterand is reported as expressing the hope 'that equality of rights between men and women may prevail everywhere in the world because the preference granted to men for centuries is unfair and beneath the dignity of civilised societies'. It is ironic that the Reuters photograph which accompanied the Sydney Morning Herald story showed female students from Marie Curie High School standing to honour Curie, a number of suited (and seated) men, and what appears to be a solely male team of pall bearers. One suspects Curie would not have been surprised.
Hot off the press
The first edition of The Australian Women's Directory is now available. It is a concise national directory of almost 2000 women's organisations, courses, groups and services which cater to the needs and interests of Australian women. Listings are arranged over 50 categories. The publishers are appealing for entries for a second edition scheduled for mid 1996. All listings are free of charge. If there is sufficient response a separate category will be created for Science and Technology. Price: $39.95 (plus $5 post & handling) from Pearlfisher Publications, 226 Darling Street, Balmain, NSW 2041. Phone: (02) 810-4101. Fax (02) 810-6024.
It all adds up
Latest issue of What Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics lists new and recent releases and includes a catalogue of publications being cleared at reduced prices. It announces the alliance of ABS and the Office of the Status of Women and the establishment of the Women's Statistical Unit. Also highlighted are the National Indigenous Population Survey, Trends and Tools for Geographic Classification, Women in New South Wales, Women's Health, and an article on sampling techniques. Publications are available through the ABS office in your state or territory or by writing to Reply Paid 4, ABS Marketing, P.O.Box 10, Belconnen, ACT 2616. To regularly receive a copy of What Figures phone: 1800 655 436.
Women and justice
The Commonwealth Government's Justice Statement, produced by the Office of Legal Information and Publishing, is available at Commonwealth Government bookshops. The statement has sections on families, resolving disputes, lawyers, courts and tribunals, legal aid, accessing laws, consumer protection, tackling crime, human rights, access across cultures and a national women's justice strategy. The last mentioned outlines, amongst other things, the provision of women's legal centres with resources to meet the special needs of women in the country, women of non-English-speaking background, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, gender awareness programs for people involved in law from judges to law students, and strengthening of the Sex Discrimination Act.
Baton change
While Sarah Ashmore is overseas next semester Dr Michele Don, a lecturer in the nursing school at Griffith Univer-sity will take over as contact person for WISENET. Thanks Michele, and bon voyage, Sarah.
Quarterly News
The Office of the Status of Women, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 3-5 National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600 has just published Issue 1 of what is to be a quarterly newsletter, Agenda. If you wish to be on the mailing list you should send your name, address and phone number to the above address. This edition includes news of the Beijing Conference, the Women's Budget Statement for 1995, New Idea magazine's Woman of the Year Award, Stop Domestic Violence Day activities, and non-Government organisation training workshops.
WISENET member a winner
Among the Telstra Business Women's Award winners for 1995 was Dr Doreen Clark, NSW winner in the business owner category. The report in The Weekend Australian June 17-18 noted that Dr Clark 'is the managing director of Analchem Bioassay Pty Ltd, a Sydney firm which provides testing and consulting services in chemistry and biology throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand'. Judges were The Hon. Susan Ryan, Ita Buttrose AO OBE, Shane Barr, Managing Director of Trent Nathan, and Don Wood.
Australian awards
Congratulations are due to Eva Cox, known to many of our readers as a redoubtable fighter for women and for disadvantaged groups, on the award of an Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen's Birthday honours list. Eva, of Distaff Associates in Camperdown NSW, is recognised for her critical analysis of social policy and her readiness to speak up for the disadvantaged. It is gratifying to see honours awarded to a woman who is ready to be critical of government policy whenever necessary. Congratulations, too, to Dr Diana Horvath AO for her award in recognition of her services to health administration and the advancement of medical teaching and research.
Economic discrimination?
More and more conferences seem to be pricing themselves beyond the means of individuals (even where a tax deduction might apply) and less affluent organisations. For example, a two day conference plus an optional one day workshop to be held in Sydney in July costs only $1495 for the conference, and only $795 for the workshop. To attend both there is a special bargain rate of $2060! This particular conference is focussed on discrimination.
Media Centre messages
Some quotable quotes regarding inequality and Internet come from the Summer issue of Media Centre News. Kylie Cochrane, who is researching the interrelated effect of women and computer mediated communica-tion, writes: Currently the Internet is limited to those who have access to the technology, the information-rich society who gain access to the Net through organisational or educational institutions. Amongst these info-rich however, gender differences in accessing the technology have been found. Many studies have documented the male/female access imbalance, finding that males tend to physically dominate computer mainframes thus enabling them more access time at the expense of their female colleagues.... Internet expressed opinions of women are often demeaning, depicting women in a negative manner.
Kylie can be reached by email on kcochran@w61ab.mq.edu.au or by 'snail mail' at 45 Campbell St, Newtown 2042. Information about the National Women's Media Centre is available from PO Box 192, Camperdown 2050. Phone: (02) 235 1852, Ah (02) 550 6734. Fax: (02) 235 1853.
Canberra Forum
On Friday 23 June WISENET was represented by Janice Shaw of ANU at the Coalition Women's Forum, 'Opportunities and Choices' held at Parliament House. Topics covered were Family and work; Equality, equity and security; Retirement and superannuation; Education, technology and workplace management; Looking forward.
Put it to air
ABC radio has introduced a science and technology round and hopes to hear of interesting stories for news bulletins and current affairs programs. Topics of news interest include new research programs; findings, developments and discoveries; conferences and seminars; and other issues concerning science and technology. Contact: Cathy Van Extel. Phone: (07) 377 5344. Fax: (07) 377 5322. (Source: FACETS)
Fulbright award
Congratulations to Sarah Roberts-Thompson for winning a 1995 Fulbright Fellowship for post-doctoral study on human breast cancer.