International Women's Day

International Women's Day 2024 at UNSW

Consent Laid Bare

What is the future of consent education in Australia?

For International Women's Day 2024, the Centre for Ideas brought together author and activist Chanel Contos, UNSW student activist and gendered violence researcher Angela Griffin, First Nations lead of the First National LGBT+ Sistergirls and Brotherboys experiences with sexual violence survey Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat, and Chair of national violence prevention foundation Our Watch Moo Baulch, to explore how we can utilise holistic approaches to community care when it comes to gendered violence.

Wednesday 6 March - Friday 14 June | UNSW Paddington Library

Liberating History surveys the annual “Women’s Issue” volumes of Tharunka, UNSW’s oldest student periodical. The display explores shifting perspectives over the past 50 years on a range of socio-political and feminist topics, from the Women’s Liberation Movement advocating for gender equality to abortion rights, sexuality, and discrimination. The materials in this display illustrate how UNSW students utilise publications to advocate for social change and transformative thinking.

Image credit: Covers of Tharunka “Women’s Issue” (1971-2019). UNSW Archives. S394.

The Kirby Institute brought together a panel of speakers whose work and lives are committed to improving the health, wellbeing and economic empowerment of women.

This online event highlighted the importance of the economic empowerment of women and examined how the intersection of gender and economic exclusion can create poor health outcomes for women, and in some cases, present active barriers to accessing healthcare.

Celebrating UNSW Women

The Celebrating UNSW Women project celebrates the remarkable and diverse UNSW community by increasing the visibility of women across our built and virtual environments.

Explore the Celebrating UNSW Women Trail and find out more about inspiring UNSW women, including the nine women who have been added to the trail as part of IWD 2024.

Explore the virtual trail

Listen back: past IWD events at UNSW

On IWD 2023, we were joined by Mona Eltahawy, one of the world's most prominent feminists and a fierce advocate for women's rights, for a timely conversation about how we might advocate for women not just in the West, but across the globe. 

We celebrated the power and strength of global feminism as we work towards a future where all genders are treated with equality and respect.

Presented by UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture and Adelaide Writers' Week

In this 2022 conversation, hear Grace joined by Michael Salter, Kyllie Cripps, Emma A Jane and Ann Mossop in a conversation about the catalytic power of collective women’s voices, achieving better education on sexual abuse and Grace's aspirations to continue to hold those in power to account.

Presented by UNSW Centre for Ideas

Innovation is a driver of change and by embracing modern technologies and championing the unique skills and knowledge of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM), we can accelerate our progress towards a gender equal future.

Health and science reporter, Tegan Taylor, sat down for a conversation with three inspiring women who are making an impact in their field, and who shared their expertise and experiences from their STEMM journeys.

Good health and education are crucial to combat inequity, however women continue to face barriers in accessing these rights – due to systemic inequity and a range of social determinants.

On International Women’s Day 2023, the Kirby Institute invited everyone to join with a diverse group of women – thought leaders who drew on their professional and personal experiences of dismantling barriers to health and education.

Sharp, tough, funny and humane, Roxane Gay’s work spans fiction, non-fiction and commentary. Since she came to global notice with ‘Bad Feminist’, she has published essays, stories and a memoir that take on questions of race, misogyny, trauma and body-shaming. Hear her 2022 conversation with UNSW academic Nicole Watson, a Murri woman who works on Indigenous storytelling.  

Presented by UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by the Sydney Opera House 

Hosted by UNSW Associate Professor Emma A Jane, this conversation with political philosophy professor Amia Srinivasan was an unflinching exploration of the way our sexual lives reflect the political context of the wider world - and how to challenge these inequalities and blind spots, within ourselves and society.

Hosted by UNSW Associate Professor Emma A Jane at the Sydney Opera House

Hosted by UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy, we heard from award winning businesswoman, former educator, best-selling author and engaging storyteller, Heidi Dening, on how you can positively manage your own wellbeing and influence a culture of change across campus with three simple, evidence-based, strategies.

Supporting Women at UNSW

A focus on gender equity and inclusion is central to our Strategy 2025 as we continue to strive to be an international exemplar of equity diversity and inclusion. We seek to foster a culture that is truly inclusive, in which all students and staff can participate equally in all areas and levels to achieve their full potential. 

The award outlines UNSW's commitment to help women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) disciplines thrive.

The Women in Research Network (WiRN) is UNSW's leading forum for research-active women to connect and collaborate to build an equitable and inclusive research culture at UNSW.  

The UNSW Women’s Collective (WoCo) is an autonomous intersectional-feminist collective focused on activism, education and community organisation.

The Women's Wellbeing Academy (WWBA) connects people across the UNSW community to enhance and highlight our diverse multidisciplinary work in the area of women’s wellbeing.

UNSW is committed to helping students and staff balance work-life responsibilities, by providing access to high-quality services, facilities, and flexible work and leave arrangements, where possible.