SDG 05 Gender Equality

2025 Report

12th in Australia

Research and Innovation

Advancing equity through physical activity research

Australia’s longest-running women’s health survey, jointly delivered by the University of Newcastle and the University of Queensland since 1996, has now engaged more than 57,000 women aged 30 to 104. Its extensive data continues to guide state and national policy on women’s health and wellbeing.

Professor Deb Loxton, Director of the study, highlights its ongoing role in addressing the diverse and intersectional health challenges faced by women across Australia. Laureate Professor Clare Collins links gendered expectations – such as women’s responsibility for food preparation – to poorer diet quality, calling for renewed government support for healthier eating.

This year, several research publications on hospitalisation, diet, and exercise patterns among women have stemmed from the survey. The University of Newcastle is proud of its near 30-year contribution to this landmark initiative.

Teaching and Learning

I2N’s FLiP program boosts female entrepreneurship in the Hunter

University of Newcastle alum Belinda Macdougall and her husband, Adam, have partnered with the University’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) to launch FLiP – a new initiative supporting female entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders across Newcastle and the Central Coast. The program responds to a stark national challenge: in 2024, only 2% of venture capital funding in Australia went to female-led companies.

FLiP is delivered over nine weeks and combines online learning with practical, hands-on experience, making it accessible for women balancing work and care responsibilities. The program builds commercial confidence, helps validate business ideas, develops leadership skills and accelerates business creation through expert industry mentoring. Participants also benefit from specialised support, including patent guidance and practical, real-world advice to bring their innovations to life.

FLiP is I2N’s new initiative to support female entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders

Operations

CSIRO Women in Energy Scholarship empowering future engineers

The CSIRO Women in Energy Scholarship supports greater female participation in engineering, offering $40,000 for students at the University of Newcastle. Linked with the CSIRO’s Newcastle Energy Centre, the scholarship provides opportunities for innovation, mentorship, and hands-on industry experience. Through this initiative, women in STEM are empowered to contribute to clean energy and technological advancement.

Industry leaders unite to address gender inequality in the workplace

In response to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s 2023–24 report on Australia’s gender pay gap, the University of Newcastle’s HunterWiSE program convened industry leaders to examine the risks and remedies of gender inequality across Australian workplaces.

The discussion centred on the alarming finding that two-thirds of Australian organisations have a gender pay gap greater than 5%. Participants explored the complexities behind these disparities, highlighting persistent barriers to women’s full workforce participation and a widespread sentiment that women remain undervalued across many sectors.

The University of Newcastle continues to prioritise pay equity, reducing its own gender pay gap from 9.9% in 2023 to 3.2% in 2025 – well below the national average disparity of 21.8%.

Guest speaker Alix Lasance (Hunter Water), event host Kate Ramsay (AnD Consulting), and HunterWiSE coordinator Leah Kiem.

Community Outreach

Australia’s longest-running women’s health survey

Dr Alyce Barnes, a post-doctoral researcher with the University of Newcastle and the National Centre of Implementation Science, has been recognised as a Lake Macquarie City Council Ambassador and named Lake Macquarie Sports Leader of the Year for her contributions to community health and gender equity.

Her research focuses on improving physical activity outcomes for women and girls, with her PhD highlighting the lifelong benefits of mother–daughter role-modelling and shared physical activity. Dr Barnes also co-facilitates the internationally recognised Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered (DADAE) program, which strengthens young girls’ confidence, physical activity levels and sports skills.

Driven by a commitment to gender equality, Dr Barnes works to address barriers that limit girls’ participation in sport, including restrictive uniform policies, outdated gender norms and a lack of visible role models. Her work underscores the importance of early engagement in physical activity as a pathway to healthier, more empowered communities.

“Being nominated for these awards is a powerful recognition of my commitment to advocating for girls and women in physical activity and breaking down the barriers that limit their participation.”
– Dr Barnes

The Women’s Research Engineers Network

The Women’s Research Engineers Network (WREN) empowers women who are early-career academics in engineering through career development, international collaboration, and role modelling. Run by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) staff and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) volunteers, WREN has grown into a global initiative with four regional subcommittees, 3,499 members, and more than 20 impactful events. Open to all, WREN fosters inclusion, supports diverse genders and identities, and advances the UN Sustainable Development Goals, driving cultural change across the University of Newcastle and reaching beyond.

HunterWiSE showcases the Hunter’s impressive young innovators

HunterWiSE, a University of Newcastle development to encourage young women to study science, technology, and engineering, held their annual showcase for the region’s young innovators. Throughout the 10-week program, female year 8 students from across the region were brought together to learn with industry leaders and innovators.

Following the development of project ideas, 39 presentations were made by the 139 students involved. Among them, ideas for automatic waste and recycling sorting, technology to reduce amenity vandalization, DIY sea bins to reduce waterway litter, and new multi-purpose sporting centres for low-income schools in the region were exhibited.

Past projects developed by high school students through HunterWiSE have been exhibited to industry leaders, including supermarkets. The University of Newcastle is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all ideas and supporting young innovators as they begin their groundbreaking research careers.

HunterWiSE’s Presentation Night.