The under-representation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines has been well documented. We discuss an affirmative action recruitment strategy from the University of Melbourne's STEM disciplines where only female applicants were eligible to apply for academic positions. This strategy has been very…

The paper examines a 'circulatory' system of gender inequity in Australian universities where gender bias prevents women from accessing senior decision-making roles and stultifies their capacity to act as gender change agents. It has been mooted that equity quotas for senior roles can derail this circuit of male privilege in academia. Yet a…

Politicians are challenged to increase economic opportunities for citizens with disabilities. Today, the employment of persons with disabilities within the Australian Government is being supported through a RecruitAbility Scheme. With full implementation of the Scheme underway, it is a timely research exercise to critically explore early progress.…

The wording of university academic job advertisements can reflect a commitment to equity (affirmative action) as opposed to academic merit in hiring decisions. The method of judgemental content analysis was applied by having three judges rate 810 Australian tenure-stream advertisements on seven-point magnitude scales of equity and merit. The…

This study explores leadership styles and gender in higher education (HE) by examining representation of female professors in Australian and Turkish universities and identifying barriers to achieving seniority. The paper explores factors, including leadership styles, which explain the higher representation of female professors in Turkey, despite…

Views of a selection committee's decision to promote a woman over a man on the basis of affirmative action were studied in a random sample of Australians (118 men and 111 women). The relations between perceptions of workplace gender discrimination, feelings of collective responsibility and guilt for discrimination, and judgments of entitlement to…

This article reports on research funded by the Australian Research Council to investigate school responses to gender equity. It addresses the efforts of a disadvantaged school to tackle what they perceived to be gender inequalities, but in the process of constructing a top-set and bottom-set/stream class they are developing new forms of old…

Reviews Affirmative Action Act passed by Australian government in 1986 to prevent discrimination against women in employment. Notes that legislation requires universities to implement eight-step program. Explains how University of Melbourne used workshop approach to encourage people on campus to believe in new rules and procedures and to follow…

A study of the relative positions of women and men in senior administrative positions in New South Wales (Australia) colleges revealed women hold almost no senior executive positions, are more restricted in occupational categories, and work in areas less likely to provide career prospects. (MSE)

It is argued that annual reports required of Australian higher education institutions by the national affirmative action agency are inadequate to remedy the problem of employment discrimination. It is proposed that the problem is more complex, and more relevant information and detailed analysis is needed to make meaningful policy changes. (MSE)

Since December 1983 universities and colleges in New South Wales are required to research the extent of discrimination and prepare an equal opportunity management plan. The objectives of this legislation and whether they are being realized within the academic structure of one university are assessed. (MLW)

This monograph explores some of the explanations commonly proffered to justify the existing pattern of academic women's employment in Australian universities. The research, data, and explanations in this monograph address the university area of the higher education sector only. It examines the adequacy of some of the explanations given for women's…

Sensitivity to someone's gender is crucial, not only in life, but also in learning. In developing countries where the opportunities for face-to-face education are often limited, open and distance learning (ODL) can provide basic education, skills training and lifelong learning. Appropriate ODL materials are especially important for women who live…

This paper explains the social and legal contexts that affect the status and employment of women in education in Australia. It examines data on women in educational management at all levels, with a focus on the tertiary sector. Methodology involved document analysis of the affirmative action plans submitted by 6 government school systems, 6…

Issues concerning the participation of women in college administration in Australia are presented in this conference report. Of concern were structural and attitudinal barriers to greater participation of women in educational management and the role of government in fostering equal opportunity. Included are an overview of the conference,…