Female maths tutors take University of Melbourne to state human rights commission
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.