Ros spoke of her own personal and professional journey growing up as the daughter of a shearer in western NSW, studying law while raising her children and later setting up her own law practice so she could better balance her own work and family commitments.
A Union women’s panel session at the forum included input from Alison Rahill of the Unions NSW Parramatta office and Jan Primrose and Linda Everingham from the AMWU Granville office.
Appreciation is expressed to IEU President Chris Wilkinson and to Executive members Patricia Murnane and Tina Ruello for their presence and contribution to the IEU Penrith event.
The attendance of NGS Super, a regular supporter of IEU women’s activities, was also most welcome.
Issues discussed by presenters and members at the Penrith gathering included social attitudes to gender, balancing work, life and family, and ensuring that women’s interests are protected and enhanced in industrial negotiations such as the current Catholic sector campaign. In the words of one member at Penrith “we all benefit when women act collectively in their workplaces”.
The IEU Women in Education Committee has a program of activities in place for 2015 and looks forward to working with members to protect and advance workplace equity and inclusion.