Western Sydney University receives two prestigious SAGE Cygnet Awards
Western Sydney University is proud to announce it has been awarded two prestigious SAGE Cygnet Awards.
The awards - the Cygnet Award for Indigenous Staff and Cygnet Award for Academic Promotions - recognise the University’s exceptional efforts in fostering Indigenous excellence and advancing gender equity, diversity, and inclusion across the institution.
The Cygnet Award for Indigenous Staffacknowledges the University’s leadership in building a more inclusive and culturally safe university for the Indigenous community at Western. This achievement reflects the leadership of Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, and the ambitious goals of the University’s Indigenous Strategy (2020–2025) (opens in a new window).
Key milestones include:
- becoming the first Australian university to implement both immediate and long-term Indigenous strategies
- meeting Indigenous employment commitments ahead of schedule
- increasing Indigenous academic and senior leadership representation, and
- securing $78.5 million for a landmark Indigenous Centre of Excellence.
The Cygnet Award for Academic Promotions recognises the University’s effortstowards advancing gender equity, diversity and inclusion in its academic promotions process. Six years ago, women and part-time staff applied for promotions at much lower rates than men. Today, overall gender parity in applications has been achieved, and part-time academics consistently make up 10 per cent of submissions.
The University has taken several steps to address barriers, including:
- streamlined policies and processes
- enhanced Achievement Relative to Opportunity guidelines
- formally recognised collegial and pastoral contributions
- integrated Indigenous Strategy priorities, and
- strengthened committee support and applicant mentoring.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO,thanked and congratulated all staff members involved in leading this important work.
“We are proud of our progress fostering Indigenous excellence and building a more inclusive and culturally safe university for the Indigenous community at Western Sydney University and are committed to further action,” said Professor Williams.
“We remain focused on increasing equity at the highest levels, particularly in bolstering progression for women in STEM and representation at Level E. By refining processes, removing barriers and fostering an empowering culture, we’ll continue to drive progress.”
The University’s full Indigenous Staff and Academic Promotions applications can be viewed via the SAGE website here (opens in a new window) and here (opens in a new window).
ENDS
17 December 2024
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