Plenary Panel

The advancement of gender equality in Australia and reflections on recent reforms

Saturday 9 November 2024, Novotel Geelong

Day two of 2024 National Conference will commence with the Plenary Panel: The advancement of gender equality in Australia and reflections on recent reforms. The panel will be chaired by Dr Amanda Selvarajah, Monash University and feature Dr Anna Cody, Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner; Dr Niki Vincent, Victorian Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner; and Professor Rae Cooper AO, Professor of Gender, Work and Employment Relations, University of Sydney and founding Director of the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion at Work).

Dr Anna Cody Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody started as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner in September 2023. Before her appointment as Commissioner, Dr Cody was the Chair of Community Legal Centres Australia and a Director of the NSW Legal Aid Commission Board and Advisory committee of Law Access.	Dr Niki Vincent Victorian Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner Dr Niki Vincent commenced as Victoria’s first Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner in 2020. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, Dr Vincent served as the South Australian Commissioner for Equal Opportunity from 2016–2020.	Professor Rae Cooper AO Professor of Gender, Work and Employment Relations, University of Sydney Professor Rae Cooper AO is Professor of Gender, Work and Employment Relations at the University of Sydney and founding Director of the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion at Work. Rae is President of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA).

Conference Prizes

Conference papers may be eligible for the following prizes. Please note that only on-time paper submissions, ie those submitted by Friday 11 October 2024 will be considered for these prizes.

Phillipa Weeks prize

Recognising the contribution of Professor Phillipa Weeks to Australian labour law scholarship and her support of young and upcoming scholars, the Phillipa Weeks Prize is jointly awarded by ALLA and Federation Press for the best paper presented at the ALLA biennial national conference by an early career academic or research higher degree student. The prize, consisting of a Federation Press book voucher and token gift provided by ALLA, will be judged by a three person sub-committee appointed by the ALLA National Committee and awarded at the ALLA National Conference Dinner.

Any person employed as an academic (other than on an adjunct or honorary basis) or whose primary occupation is studying for a research higher degree will be eligible for the prize, except a person who holds the academic post of Associate Professor, Professor, or an Honorary Professorial position; or a person who is appointed to the sub-committee formed to judge the prize. All conference papers from eligible persons submitted before the full paper submission deadline will be eligible.

Dominica Whelan Prize

Named in honour of the late AIRC, FWA and Federal Circuit Court member, Dominica Whelan, this prize is jointly awarded by ALLA and Federation Press for the best paper presented at the ALLA biennial national conference by a labour law practitioner or other individual with a professional interest in the field. The prize, consisting of a Federation Press book voucher and token gift provided by ALLA, will be judged by a three person sub-committee appointed by the ALLA National Committee and awarded at the ALLA National Conference Dinner.

Any practitioner or professional practising or working in the field of labour law will be eligible for the prize, except a person who is otherwise eligible for the Phillipa Weeks prize; any person who holds the academic post of Associate Professor, Professor, or an Honorary Professorial position; or a person who is appointed to the sub-committee formed to judge the prize. All conference papers from eligible persons submitted before the full paper submission deadline will be eligible.

ALLA Research Degree Scholarship

The objective of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance for one or more students to present a paper at the ALLA National Conference. This scholarship is open to students enrolled in a research degree (such as a PhD, LLM by thesis, or similar) in an Australian or New Zealand University. ALLA will pay the conference registration fees for the successful scholarship applicant or applicants. For those not living in the conference host city, a contribution towards airfares and/or accommodation may be offered at the discretion of the ALLA National Executive or its delegate.

Scholarship applicants must have submitted an abstract which has been accepted for presentation at the conference. Scholarships are awarded preferentially to ALLA members, and decided by the ALLA National Executive or its delegate, with consideration given to:

• whether the applicant is a previous recipient of the ALLA Research Degree Scholarship, and if so, the timing of previous awards;
• the applicant’s degree program, institution, and time enrolled; and
• the applicant’s demonstrated financial need, including:
  • travel, accommodation and attendance costs associated with conference,
  • whether the applicant is employed and in what capacity (for example, hours worked in the past fortnight),
  • whether the applicant is in receipt of some other form of scholarship (such as an Australian Postgraduate Award).

The Phillipa Weeks and Dominica Whelan Prizes are sponsored by Federation Press