SAGE Updates | December 2022

In this issue:

Silver Award consultation now open
Have your say in the Pathway to Diversity in STEM review
SAGE subscribers perform better in gender equity
Geoscience Australia receives Cygnet Award for inclusive culture
Philanthropists encouraged to fund SAGE uptake

MESSAGE FROM THE NEW CEO

Dear subscribers and friends of SAGE,

I'd like to firstly express my gratitude for the warm welcome I've received from the SAGE community since stepping into the role of CEO. I’m truly honoured to lead SAGE in the next phase of its growth journey.

Building on my work at WGEA, I look forward to continuing to leverage an evidence-based approach to drive systemic change for gender equity, diversity and inclusion. Wafa has made a significant contribution and impact on SAGE within her six years as CEO, and I endeavour to build on her incredible legacy.

I am excited about the collaboration opportunities the new year presents for SAGE, starting with taking forward actions from the November Heads of Institutions Forum. We also look forward to receiving the sector's feedback on the draft Athena Swan Silver Award application form. Consultation is open until 7 April 2023, and we invite subscribers to help us shape the next step of their accreditation journey.

We will also take part in the Government’s review of its existing STEM diversity programs. This is a chance to highlight how the SAGE approach reduces barriers to participation for underrepresented and marginalised groups, and we encourage the SAGE community to get involved in the consultation process.

As 2022 draws to a close, SAGE welcomes the recent passing of the Respect@Work bill, which puts the onus on Australian workplaces to prevent sexual harassment from occurring. We commend the work of Commissioner Jenkins and the report contributors that led to reforms which will further encourage uptake of proactive, systems-change approaches like SAGE, so that everyone can feel safe and respected at work.

On behalf of the SAGE team and the Board, I hope you enjoy a safe and happy holiday season. I'm looking forward to working with SAGE subscribers and collaborators in the new year.

Regards,
Dr Janin Bredehoeft
Chief Executive Officer, SAGE Ltd

FAREWELL FROM THE DEPARTING CEO

Dear subscribers and friends of SAGE,

My final year as CEO has been an extremely busy and rewarding one. I couldn’t be prouder of what the team and community has accomplished in 2022.

Our key milestones and activities include delivering the Diversity Interventions 2022 SAGE conference and the Intersectionality Series, a program designed to build subscribers’ capacity to take an intersectional approach to gender equity, diversity and inclusion work.

It was fantastic to host the reviewer training for the Cygnet Awards, and to award Edith Cowan University and Geoscience Australia with the first two Cygnet Awards.

We also commenced the pilot of the Workload Allocation Principles Matrix, and strengthened engagement with higher education and research leaders through two Heads of Institutions Fora.

Feedback from this year's SAGE Heads of Institutions consultations showed the value our community sees in SAGE as a driver of change, and reiterated their commitment to the program.

SAGE subscribers have invested so much in this journey, with many well on their way to achieving a Silver Award. I urge them to stay the course on this national priority and I look forward to following their progress in future.

It was an honour to work with the subscribers and friends of SAGE for the last six years, and I will miss our community's collaborative spirit and collective commitment to our shared cause.

Dr Bredehoeft will be an incredible asset to SAGE – her advocacy, leadership and achievements at WGEA position her well to grow SAGE’s impact and continue our work in driving systemic change for gender equity, diversity and inclusion.

I wish you a safe and enjoyable summer and the very best for 2023.

Regards,
Dr Wafa El-Adhami

PROGRAM UPDATES

Silver award consultation now open

Consultations are now open for the Athena Swan Silver Award application form and guidance. SAGE subscribers are invited to provide feedback on the draft that was released on 6 December 2022.

This document is informed by the transformed UK Athena Swan Charter; the sector’s feedback on the SAGE Athena Swan Bronze Award application and Cygnet Awards; feedback from the recent Heads of Institutions survey; as well as comments provided to SAGE through one-to-one consultations, and Regional and National Network Meetings.

The Silver Award guidance and form provide a flexible approach that recognises organisational maturity and each institution's unique journey to advancing gender equity, diversity and inclusion. The resulting design reduces administrative burden while maintaining rigour and alignment with the Cygnet Awards and importantly, the Athena Swan benchmark, creating a seamless accreditation pathway for all.

The consultation closes on 7 April 2023.

Have your say in the Pathway to Diversity in STEM review

In September, the Australian Government announced a review to determine how Government programs can better support diversity in STEM sectors.

As sector leaders in gender equity, diversity and inclusion, SAGE and its subscribers have a wealth of insight and experience on which approaches provide strong returns on investment.

We encourage our subscribers to inform this review by making submissions (individually or in collaboration with SAGE) next year.

Become a Bronze Award reviewer

All applications for SAGE accreditation are assessed through an independent expert peer review process. Our volunteer reviewers play a vital role in assuring the rigour and credibility of the SAGE assessment process.

We’re recruiting reviewers in preparation for the next round of Athena Swan Bronze Award applications, which are due in March 2023.

If you are available between April to July next year, please consider submitting an expression of interest. Online reviewer training will be provided.

Table showing that SAGE-accredited universites and medical research institutes have a higher proportion of women in key leadership positions.

SAGE-accredited institutions perform better in gender equity

Our analysis shows that SAGE-accredited universities and medical research institutes outperform their non-accredited counterparts on key WGEA gender equality indicators. We'll publish our detailed findings in 2023, but we couldn’t wait to share with you this sneak peek from our presentation at last month’s Heads of Institutions Forum.

Renew your SAGE subscription

Annual subscription renewals are due by January 2023.

Reminders were sent to all subscriber organisations last month.

We look forward to your continued participation in SAGE in 2023 and to supporting your important work.

SAGE impact survey

A big thank you to everyone who participated in, or helped promote, the SAGE Impact Survey in September. Your feedback provided valuable insights into the impact of the SAGE accreditation program on your lived experiences. Congratulations also to the five prize draw winners who have received their $50 Mastercard e-gift cards.

NEWS

Geoscience Australia receives Cygnet Award for inclusive culture

We’re delighted to announce that Geoscience Australia has achieved their first Cygnet Award.

Since receiving their Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2020, Geoscience Australia has delivered on their commitment to develop an inclusive culture.

Their key outcomes include increased women’s representation in leadership and STEM roles within the organisation, and positive feedback from staff.

Philanthropists encouraged to fund SAGE uptake

Removing entrenched gender norms could add $128 billion a year to the Australian economy and create an additional 461,000 full-time employees.

Yet, only 12% of all philanthropic investment in Australia has a strategic focus on women and girls.

Philanthropy can support systemic change in the STEM sector by funding research institutes to complete SAGE accreditation.

Prime Minister's Prize for Science awards

Nominations open for prestigious awards

Is there a researcher in your network who embodies diversity and inclusion? Consider nominating them for an AAHMS medal or one of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science.

It's a chance to give deserving individuals visibility and recognition for their work and ensure that up-and-coming researchers benefit from seeing more diverse role models.

Diverse nominee pools are more likely to result in diverse prize recipients. You can do your part by consciously considering diversity in your nominations.

Two people sitting across from each other and having a conversation

How do universities respond to workplace sexual harasment?

Alicia Pearce, a PhD candidate at UTS, is looking for diversity practitioners in the Australian university sector to help answer this question.

Diversity practitioners are invited to participate in a 1-hour interview about their professional perceptions, understanding and knowledge of workplace sexual harassment policies and practices in the sector.

Interviews will take place via Zoom between November 2022 to January 2023. Participants will not be asked about individual cases or outcomes, or for information that would identify a complainant or perpetrator. All transcripts will be de-identified and offered to participants for review before the research is published.

By participating, you’ll help inform recommendations to improve the way universities respond to workplace sexual harassment. To sign up for an interview or learn more about this project, please email Alicia.

See you next year!

The SAGE office will be closed from 24 December 2022 to 2 January 2023 (inclusive). We are so grateful for all your support this year, and can't wait to keep growing the SAGE program to drive gender equity, diversity and inclusion in 2023.

Copyright © 2022 Science in Australia Gender Equity Ltd, All rights reserved.

Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here to get the next one directly to your inbox.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from everything.