SA Unions is South Australia’s united trades and labor council, the peak voice for the South Australian union movement. The council collectively represents approximately 160,000 union members in industries right across SA, from hospitality to the public sector, from construction to policing, from nurses and ambulance officers to abattoir workers and teachers.

South Australians deserve to be prosperous and healthy with secure, good quality jobs so we can take care of our selves, our loved ones and plan for the future. Sadly, we know that 40 years after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act we are still grappling with sexual harassment and gendered violence against many women at the workplace. Entrenched practices and structural inequalities still see women in the lowest paid positions, being concentrated in occupations and jobs with low wages and facing entrenched gender bias.

SA Unions are deeply committed to addressing these and other issues affecting women at work. We invite you to join us and help deliver a better future.

Role description

The Women’s Officer works with the SA Unions Women’s Standing Committee and Vice President Women to build power and address the needs of women workers.

The Women’s Officer will:

• Provide organising assistance and coordination of the SA Unions Women’s Standing Committee, supporting the Vice President Women,
• Develop and coordinate our women’s strategy for improving the position of women and addressing barriers to gender equality,
• Other related duties as directed.

The Women’s Officer supports the Coordinator, Policy and Industrial Services to:

• Develop SA Unions policy positions and respond to industrial and policy issues affecting women at work,
• Provide advice on and assist with the development of submissions which advance SA Union’s interests, particularly on matters impacting working women.

Scope of the role

The Women’s Officer will conduct these duties in a phased approach, commencing with the development of an SA Unions Working Women’s Strategy over an initial six month contract. This strategy will be developed in consultation with the SA Unions Women’s Standing Committee and Vice President Women. 

Duties may include:

• Coordination of key events including International Working Women’s Day and the Anna Stewart Memorial Project,
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with all affiliate unions to SA Unions and understand their industrial coverage and priorities,
• Identifying opportunities for engagement which advance SA Unions strategic goals,
• Operationalising and delivering projects as determined by the strategy, including training programs, workplace and industry strategies to address issues affecting women at work, and projects to grow the union movement in respect of issues affecting women at work,
• Coordinating this work with interstate Trades and Labor Councils and the ACTU.
• Building and maintaining relationships with other stakeholder organisations,
• Providing content for media releases, social media, and stakeholder updates,
• Identifying, and assisting drafting applications for, relevant grants and funding opportunities,
• Monitoring and recording the progress of equality-based, women focused and family friendly clauses in awards and agreements, and draft model clauses,
• Preparing regular reports for the Secretary and Executive.

Skills and experience

Essential

• The applicant must have strong organisational and relationship management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to produce high quality plans and reports.
• Demonstrated understanding of the relationship between organising, campaigning, union power, and achieving change.
• Experience working for a trade union or in an in-house role with exposure to gender issues.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to union values, integrity, and addressing gender inequality.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of the Federal and State Fair Work Acts and relevant workplace law and legislation relevant to gender issues.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and deliver projects.
• Knowledge of Labor Council and ACTU structures and activities.
• Familiarity with union coverage and priorities in South Australia.