Events

Financial Security at Every Stage of Life

Wednesday 12 August | 2.00pm (AEST)

Financial security grows through access to good information and informed decision-making.

Join Ashlee Bunyan, Senior Private Wealth Adviser at UniSuper, for an online session exploring practical strategies to support long-term financial wellbeing and retirement outcomes.

With more than 20 years’ experience in financial planning, Ashlee will discuss:

• Superannuation and retirement planning
• Career changes and part-time work
• Insurance considerations
• Practical steps to strengthen your financial future

This session will provide general information only. Any financial planning advice should be sought independently.

Building Better Universities Together

Thursday 13 August | 11.00am (AEST)

Safer, more inclusive universities are built through collective action, strong leadership and a commitment to equity 

Join Dr Anna Cody, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, for a special Bluestocking Week seminar exploring gender equality in higher education and the work still needed to tackle sexual harassment, sex discrimination and gender-based violence.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in human rights, law and social justice, Dr Cody will discuss how we can build safer workplaces, strengthen equality across our sector and create lasting cultural change.

Who’s Carrying the Workload? 

Friday 14 August | 2.00pm (AEST)

What does academic work look like for women and gender-diverse academics today? Drawing on a survey of more than 500 academics, this presentation explores the gendered realities of academic work and workload, alongside the structural challenges shaping contemporary universities.

In keeping with the spirit of Bluestocking Week, celebrating women and gender-diverse people in higher education, this presentation also highlights the often-overlooked ways colleagues create communities of support, solidarity, and care within the contemporary academy.

Join guest speaker Dr Kathleen (Kate) Smithers, Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at UNSW Sydney. She specialises in higher education policy, academic labour and workforce conditions, and equity in education.

What is Bluestocking Week?

Every year, the NTEU celebrates Bluestocking Week, recognising the achievements of women and gender-diverse people in higher education and reaffirming our commitment to equity across the sector.

The name Bluestocking comes from the first generations of university women in the nineteenth century. Originally used as a derogatory term by those who opposed women’s education and intellectual ambition, these pioneering women reclaimed the name, proudly wearing it as a symbol of scholarship, determination and the right to participate fully in academic life.

Today, Bluestocking Week celebrates that legacy while shining a light on the issues that continue to shape women’s experiences at work. Through a week of events, discussions and professional development, we celebrate women’s achievements, share knowledge and strengthen our collective commitment to creating fairer, safer and more equitable universities for everyone.

Get your stickers

Order your free Bluestocking Week sticker sheet and add a little solidarity to your laptop, notebook or workspace.

Download a poster to put up