The University of Newcastle has today been named a 2010 Employer of Choice for Women, for the second year in a row.

The inclusion on the 2010 list is a prestigious acknowledgement by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) of organisations that are recognising and advancing women in the workplace.

To be included on the this list, organisations are measured against a set of stringent criteria to assess their efforts in creating fair workplaces and achieving genuine results for women.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Global Relations) and Director of Affirmative Action, Professor Kevin McConkey, said today's listing recognised the University's significant efforts in implementing a series of equity and diversity initiatives.

"The University is continuously developing strategies to support all staff in the workplace, with a particular focus in recent years on women.

"The University is proud to be a workplace of choice for women and to be included on the list for the second year in a row is an indication that these strategies are working."

Women make up around 60 per cent of the University's workforce, which is higher than the sector average of 53 per cent. Women hold more than one-third of senior management roles and 44 per cent of academic staff are female.

The University's innovative programs for women include:

• Academic Women in Leadership (AWiL) comprises mentoring, executive coaching, and guest speakers
• Career Enhancement Fellowships provide support for academic staff to spend 12 months to pursue activities that will increase the likelihood of promotion
• Equity Research Fellowships offer women and Indigenous academics time and resources to progress their research or Research Higher Degree (research masters or doctoral degree)
• Women@UoN supports a professional training and development program for all female staff of the University comprising workshops and guest speakers

"While this is a significant achievement for the University, we are continually looking for more ways to provide greater equity and a fairer workplace."

Ninety-five organisations across Australia including three in the Hunter have been named Employers of Choice this year.

Media contact: For interviews with Professor McConkey please contact Keeley O'Mara. EOWA's embargoed media information including the complete 2010 listing is available at the EOWA website.