Three maths tutors from the University of Melbourne are taking the Sandstone Institution to the Equal Opportunity Commission alleging gender discrimination. The tutors are among a larger group of nine staff facing the axe from the university, and now a long-time colleague is risking her job to speak out in support.
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00:00Dr. Juveria Jalal balances raising two boys with a career teaching maths at the University
00:08of Melbourne. Irregular, casual employment makes that difficult.
00:12I had to return to work four weeks postpartum after a c-section. That was not a choice really.
00:20I knew if I have to teach summer, I will have to do semester two.
00:26Dr. Jalal says her commitment to the job wasn't reciprocated. She's one of nine maths tutors
00:31who will soon be out of work as the university moves away from teaching-only roles. The tutors
00:36were denied conversion to permanent jobs and three are now taking their fight to the Victorian
00:41Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, alleging indirect gender discrimination.
00:47As the primary carer at home, Dr. Jalal says she missed out on career development opportunities
00:52needed for new teaching and research positions. So I think if a decision has been made based
00:59on what my availability was at that time, it's really unfair.
01:04Melbourne University has not filed a response to the allegations. However, in a statement,
01:08the University of Melbourne said it did not accept unlawful discrimination and takes its
01:13obligations in relation to discrimination extremely seriously. Adding, we recognise
01:19workforce structures that rely on casual and short-term employment are neither desirable
01:24nor sustainable. Julie Frierson is a colleague of Dr. Jalal. She's just been made permanent
01:30after 36 years in insecure work. She says she's prepared to risk all of that by speaking
01:36out for her colleagues. I think there's a grave injustice being done
01:40to the other ten teaching associates. Julie Frierson says it'll also hurt the students
01:47she loves teaching. As far as I can see, it's turning the clock
01:50back about 40 years. No date has been set for conciliation.