Peak Women's Organisations
The Hon. Verity Firth, Minister for Women met with representatives of over 30 NSW peak women’s organisations on Thursday 13 September 2007, 1.30 pm – 3.30pm.
At the previous meeting in May attendees identified the impact of the Federal Government’s Work Choices legislation as a key issue for women, so the following speakers were invited to the meeting on 13 September to address this topic.
Ms Pat McDonough, Solicitor, Inner City Legal Centre.
Ms McDonough is involved in The Women's Employment Rights Project (WERP) which provides legal advice, information and training to community advocates across NSW. At the same time, WERP monitors the impact of the current workplace relations system on NSW women particularly in the areas of unfair/unlawful dismissals, Australian workplace agreements and discrimination. For further information about this project please go to www.iclc.org.au. WERP documents <<will open in new browser>>
Dr Rae Cooper, lecturer and researcher, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Sydney. Dr Cooper was co-investigator and author on a national report ‘Women and WorkChoices; Impacts of the low pay sector’ to the National Foundation of Australian Women, Women’s Electoral Lobby and YWCA released August 2007 in Canberra. A full copy of Down and Out with Work Choices: The Impact of Work Choices on the Work and Lives of Women in Low Paid Employment is available here.
The Minister for Women gave an update on her recent activities, current topics, ‘women and work’ issues, Premier’s Council for Women, and planning for International Women’s Day and Woman of the Year Awards.
At this meeting representatives from peak women’s organisations were given an opportunity to ask questions of the Minister for Women and guest speakers, comment on their own organisation’s current activities and provide suggestions for the agenda at future meetings.
The next meeting is likely to be early February 2008.