Media Release
June 10 2008
Honour roll recognises UniSA women
Fifteen UniSA staff, graduates and associates have been acknowledged on the
inaugural
SA Women’s Honour Roll
announced by
Jennifer Rankine, Minister for the Status of Women
at a ceremony held at Parliament House last week.
Among the 147 South Australian women honoured for their outstanding performance and achievements in championing diversity, leading the community towards respect and responsibility and exploring new directions through innovation were:
Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs AO - Emeritus Professor in Child Development and an international leader for her multidisciplinary research addressing issues of child abuse and child protection.
Professor Robyn McDermott - Pro Vice-Chancellor, Division of Health Sciences, for her achievements in improved primary care services to remote Indigenous communities in central and northern Australia, particularly in diabetes care and the prevention of complications.
Emeritus Professor Alison Mackinnon - Emeritus Professor of History and Gender Studies and Foundation Director of the Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies until 2005.
Professor Wendy Schiller OAM - Professor of early Childhood Education and Director of the de Lissa Research Centre; noted for work in the area of collaborative arts education for children.
Ms Anne Glover AO - Nominated for her contribution to early childhood education as a lecturer; for designing and implementing training programs and leading international education projects for disadvantaged Indigenous children in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor.
Professor Barbara Comber - Acting Director of the Hawke Research Institute and outstanding contributor to the literacy learning of young people in Australia through the development of outstanding research focussed on literacy and social justice.
Professor Jennifer McKay - Outstanding academic contribution towards the development of water management at state, national and international levels, significant impact on water reform policies, and 2008 Fulbright Senior Scholarship winner.
Assoc Professor Jill Slay - Noted as a leading scientific researcher in forensic computing at the Defence and Systems Institute, primarily in the development of software and hardware solutions to real-life issues in collaboration with police and government.
Assoc Professor Julie Mills - Associate Professor in Civil Engineering, co-founder of South Australian Women in Engineering Group and member of the South Australian Women’s Advisory Council. Awarded the Carrick Citation for outstanding contributions to student equity and diversity in 2006.
Ms Maria Lane - Former Manager, Aboriginal and Islander Support and an inspirational role model at UniSA for over ten years encouraging Aboriginal women to enter university.
Ms Mary Ware - UniSA graduate and the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the Port Lincoln council.
Ms Wendy Koolmatri - UniSA graduate and Aboriginal community activist.
Ms Leann Symonds - UniSA graduate and founder of parent and caregiver support programs
In addition two UniSA graduates were selected from the roll as finalists for SA Woman of the Year; Rhonda Dadleh, one of SA’s first trained Aboriginal early childhood educators and Katherine Leane for her national support and advocacy for HIV positive women.
Prof Mackinnon, who was named on the roll for her outstanding contribution to research, scholarship and leadership, said it was a great honour to be nominated among so many diverse and extraordinary women.
“Personally I was extremely gratified that people felt my work worthy of nomination, but it’s also an important acknowledgement of the extraordinarily broad spectrum of women who contribute so vitally to South Australia,” Prof Mackinnon said.
“The finalists are doing the most amazing voluntary community work and it’s a fascinating mixture of women who were honoured, from academia, professional life and business as well as those who are just quietly undertaking their own voluntary work.”
Prof Mackinnon said the importance of recognition like the honour roll provides a forum for the work of women to be acknowledged and valued.
“All of the women from UniSA are an important part of the community in educating the next generation of professionals and carers and women do play a large part in voluntary and caring work often as an extension of, or in addition to their professions,” she said.
“In many ways much of women’s work is still unsung. Many women would consider that now they are working harder that ever so it was very warming to see the wide spectrum of women’s lives being valued and honoured.
Prof Mackinnon credits the large representation of UniSA women to their strength and commitment to research, teaching, and community service and the University’s support for the work and roles of women and its commitment to the SA community.
Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Høj congratulated each of the women and said:
“I congratulate all the women, including those associated with UniSA, who have been recognised on the SA Women’s Honour Roll for their dedication and outstanding service to the University and the wider community.
“I am proud of the role these and other women are playing in the community and the positive contribution they have made. I extend my best wishes to each and every one of them.”
Contacts for interview
- Prof Alison Mackinnon mobile 0402 065 761 email alison.mackinnon@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
- Linda Hein office (08) 8302 0965 mobile 0411 257 029 email linda.hein@unisa.edu.au