New report reveals $60,000 gender pay gap in the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A new report's found, women across the Hunter are being paid on average $60,000 a year less than men.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency is putting the 40 percent gap down to the high concentration of men in high-paying industries such as mining and manufacturing, compared to the prevalence of women in lower-paying industries such as healthcare and social assistance.

Hunter Workers Women's Committee Chair Leanne Holmes says policy change is essential to levelling the playing field.

"We need to increase the wages and conditions of those lower-paying industries where women tend to work," she said. "And really increase, in both spaces, the capacity for women to earn better money."

"That includes making sure there's flexibility in rostering, and the support network you need at work when women have generally got caring responsibilities outside of work."

It's hoped the Federal Government's new workplace relations legislation will enable measures to encourage women's aspirations and participation across a wider range of sectors.

Ms Holmes is also calling for action on discrimination and sexual violence against women in male-dominated industries.

She says Australia needs to take a holistic approach to the issue.

"[Women] are on the lower incomes in the first place, they've got caring responsibilities, the cost of living is through the roof at the moment," she said.

"You only have to watch the news and see that there's mums with kids desperately trying to find housing, trying to afford food. This compounds it."

"The money is there. We just need to get women in industries."

Hunter unions and women's support services welcome domestic violence leave legislation

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter unions and women's support services are welcoming the introduction of new legislation to Federal Parliament this week, giving workers across Australia access to ten days of paid domestic violence leave.

11 million workers are expected to benefit if the legislation successfully passes, including casual staff.

Both women's advocates and the broader union movement have spent around a decade calling for the change.

Hunter Workers Women's Committee Chair Leanne Holmes says security at work is a basic right.

"We've been in situations where women have had to make the choice between feeding their kids and finding a safe place to live," she said.

"A worker can now take paid time to go to court, move house, move his or her kids to a different school without losing their job, and that's the most important part. Work is people's anchor, it's their sort of safe space where they can earn an income." 

Labor's likely to be able to muster up the numbers to get the bill passed, though the Opposition has indicated it's still leaning towards the Fair Work Commission's model, where casual workers wouldn't receive the entitlement.

But Nova for Women and Children CEO Kelly Hansen says women make up the majority of the casual workforce, and are often the most at risk.

"A lot goes under-reported," she said. "This may give women the courage or the confidence to be able to report, and know that they will be able to follow through on any aspects that they have to, without being penalised."

"I think it's indicative of cultural change towards women and gendered violence. It also is indicative of trying to remove barriers and alleviate some of the pressures for women."

If passed, the legislation is expected to come into effect for larger businesses by February next year, though smaller businesses will have an additional six months to prepare for the change.

Anthony Albanese joined women's safety advocates at a vigil on the lawn of Parliament House on Thursday morning, describing domestic violence as a "stain on our national soul".

Ms Holmes was there, and says it was an emotional moment.

"Walking through Parliament yesterday on the front lawns, and Anthony Albanese coming out and then being in the chamber for that legislation to be commended to Parliament, you can feel the change," she said.

"We're finally in a space where the people of Australia are being listened to, and there's real positive change happening - literally happening before our eyes."

"It's not just saving lives, it's saving livelihoods."

Image credit: Anthony Albanese.

Psychology students launch new clinic for crisis accomodation residents

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Jenny's Place is partnering with the University of Newcastle for a new clinic connecting crisis accommodation residents with weekly psychology services.

The Sunshine Hut program is being staffed by provisional psychologists and postgraduate students in the School of Psychology.

Jenny's Place Executive Manager Marcia Chapman says women and children fleeing violence often struggle with their mental health.

"Some kids can have learning difficulties at school, they can act out, they can have trouble having relationships," she said.

"They can have low self-esteem, or suffering mental issues such as anxiety, depression. Drug and alcohol dependencies.

"Some may become abusers themselves, or get into domestic violence relationships and the cycle repeats."

The program's been made possible by an anonymous philanthropic grant to Jenny's Place, who is also funding preliminary research to further develop the initiative.

The psychologists initially work with mothers to examine their personal history and understand their needs, before focusing on individual therapy and referrals to other services.

It's also being welcomed as a valuable hands-on experience for psychology students, with hope the program will be expanded over the next four years.

"They're going to learn so much, being able to come in and be part of this," Ms Chapman said.

"They've been involved in it from the get-go, so they're the ones who are designing it, putting it together, and doing the research and building the program as they go.

"It's a very exciting time for the clients, for the students, and for us."

Clinical Supervisor Saskia Behan, Jenny's Place Operations Manager Stacey Gately, and Master of Clinical Psychology student Rebecca Fellowes.

Domestic violence service forced to cut back support for women in need

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A women's domestic violence and homelessness service has been forced to cut back services, saying the capacity just isn't there to keep up with demand.

Nova For Women And Children will cut back on non-urgent referrals and a waiting list won't be kept for non-urgent crisis accommodation requests.

The service's Newcastle and Charlestown hubs will now be shut on Tuesdays.

There's reports staff are burnt-out and struggling to keep up.

More than 150 women are currently waiting for support across the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas alone.

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon says the Federal Government has a responsibility to step up funding.

"The Prime Minister's promise of extra funding has really turned out to be nothing but a heartless con for our services in Newcastle," Ms Claydon said.

"Just another hollow announcement from a Government that seems to be hell bent on not actually following through on anything that they have allegedly committed to."

The news comes at the closing of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Ms Claydon is also set to speak at a Hunter Workers rally at Civic Park on Friday, calling on the Government to provide ten days paid domestic violence leave.

The cut to services will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, but the current model is likely to remain in place until at least next year.

HMRI launch Women in Medical Research Fellowship

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Just in time for International Women's Day, the Hunter Medical Research Institute has launched a new fellowships initiative aimed at female scientists.

The scheme includes a research support grant, along with secured salary, to help sustain the recipient’s own research project.

HMRI say it could lead to further research grants, government funding and commercialisation opportunities.

Companies, foundations and individual donors are encouraged to contribute to the funding pool, which supports female fellowships over three, five or 10 years.

Female researchers often spend valuable time applying for grants, while a fellowship guarantees funding, allowing scientific leaps forward.

HMRI Director, Professor Michael Nilsson said women tend to drain out of the academic system around the mid-point of their careers, causing a lot of intellectual capital to be wasted.

"...It's particularly so for women - of course, we have exceptionally talented scientists in that bracket," he said, but they are maybe even more at risk during this period for not attracting continuous funding.

"It's quite often the career phase when children are coming and families are established. 

Professor Nilsson said female HMRI researchers face significant career barriers. 

"There aren't many opportunities to secure long-term funding in that vulnerable phase...so I would say maybe it's not a glass ceiling, it's actually that they're sinking, without finding ways to sustain their career. " 

To donate to the fellowship fund, head to the HMRI website or contact HMRI Donor Relations on (02) 4042 1000. 

First Female Assistant Bishop For Newcastle

BY: ALEX MURRAY

The Newcastle Anglican Diocese has it's first female assistant bishop, Sonia Roulston.

In 171 years of the Anglican Diocese' operation, this is the first time a female has stepped into this senior position.

It was also the first for the appointment of two assistant bishops, following Sonia Roulston, Charlie Murray was also named Archdeacon from today's events.

Archdeacon Roulston says as the church evolves, so will the role of elevating women.

As Newcastle and the wider Australian region are increasingly more secular, the diocese are hoping this will restore confidence in the system believing actions speak louder than words.

In an interview with the ABC, Archdeacon Roulston said, "It's exciting to be the first woman to be making this step, but in a way it seems like a normal step to be taking"