A floriculturist and an active group of university staff have won The University of Queensland’s, Vice-Chancellor’s Equity and Diversity Awards.
The individual winner, Dr Margaret Johnston from UQ Gatton, and 13 members of the UQ Ipswich Equity and Diversity Committee, were honoured at the awards lunch at Customs House in Brisbane today.
The awards were held on the final day of UQ’s third annual Diversity Week to recognise people who have improved diversity and equity at UQ.
The aim of the week is to increase understanding of cultures, linguistic and religious diversity, disability, sexuality, gender, family and carer responsibilities, racism and Indigenous Australian history and culture.
Dr Johnston is a senior lecturer in horticulture who has spent more than two decades in floriculture and horticulture.
She won the individual $5000 prize for her longstanding contributions to equity and mentoring, particularly of women in a male-dominated industry.
She said she would use the money to foster female networking, attract leading women speakers to Gatton and expand her work in helping an indigenous native flower business.
The Ipswich group of 13 staff, has been working away on diversity issues for about three years to improve student life on the Ipswich campus.
They have lobbied for improved student parking, transport and childcare, introduced a first-year student mentoring program and organised many cultural activities for Harmony Day and Diversity Week at Ipswich.
The committee is: Sue Hutley, Dr Marie Kavanagh, Dr Juliana de Nooy, Ngaire Wills, Beth Cavallari, Dr Fiona Bogossian, Julie O’Donohoe, Dr Lesley Jolly, Libby Townley, Michael Williams, Rodney Catling, Sue Scull and Warren Kerswill.
Committee Chair Sue Hutley said the $10,000 award money would be spent to expand a peer-mentoring program for first year students.
Award winners were congratulated by guest diversity speaker Nadia Masarweh, the founder and President of the Arab and Australian Women`s Friendship Association (AAWFA).
In her speech on the changing roles of women in the Arab world, Mrs Masarweh said Arab women faced many obstacles such as pressure to conform to old cultural traditions and be obedient.
But, Jordanian women in particular, were becoming more involved in political, economical and social life.
“Women have to work harder to bridge the gap between their own self-image and what society expects of them,” Mrs Masarweh said.
Jordanian women are now able to divorce, have child visitation rights, see their spouses punished equally for honour crimes and those married to foreigners may soon be able to extend their nationality to their children.
“As an Arab and Jordanian, I am proud and satisfied that real and tangible results and visible changes have taken place not only in Jordan but in most Arab states as well as here in Australia.”
She said AAWFA, made up of Arab-Australians and representatives from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria and Jordan, was a new step to acquaint Australians with Arab culture and have a wider understanding for women of all backgrounds.
UQ staged about 30 events during Diversity Week including public concerts, forums, lectures and tours at its St Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton campuses.
Jazz great James Morrison kicked off the week on Monday night with a public concert in support of international friendship at the UQ Centre.
About 750 people attended the Centre’s first public, ticketed concert.
Some of the other diversity events included a multifaith forum, combating racism lecture, food festivals, a diversity photographic competition, indigenous issues forum and a tertiary taster program.
Media: contact Miguel Holland at UQ Communications on (phone: 07 3365 2619, email: m.holland@uq.edu.au)
