Women's Wellbeing Academy

The UNSW Women’s Wellbeing Academy (WWBA) was established in December 2019, with an inaugural meet-up at which there were 20 short presentations on aspects of women’s wellbeing. There was enormous interest in presenting and the intention was to have a follow-up meeting early in 2020. COVID-19 put these plans on hold, so we are progressing with a virtual WWBA to enable staff and students working in various areas of women’s wellbeing at UNSW to continue to connect and collaborate.

The Academy is open to any individual or group at UNSW, whose research, teaching and practice falls within women’s wellbeing, and showcases the extensive and diverse work undertaken at the University. Importantly, the academy encourages multi-disciplinary work and collaboration with universities, industry and government.

The areas encompassed by Academy members include but are not limited to the wellbeing of women and girls in:

  • Reproductive health
  • Mental health
  • Domestic and family violence
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Development contexts
  • Indigenous and minority communities
  • Financial inclusion
  • Cancers
  • Sexuality and relationships
  • The justice system
  • Nutrition
  • Housing and homelessness
  • Childcare
  • Poverty
  • Dementia and aging

Intersectionality is a cross cutting theme.

The initiative is spearheaded by UNSW President and Vice-Chancellor Ian Jacobs, Professor Eileen Baldry, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Equity Diversity and Inclusion, and Professor William Ledger, Head and Professor of the Discipline of Obstetrics & Gynaecology in the School of Women's & Children's Health.

 

Women's Wellbeing Academy podcast

COVID-19 series

The impact of COVID-19 is not gender-neutral. It is crucial to examine the gendered impact of the pandemic as it relates to the wellbeing of women. To explore these impacts, Professor Eileen Baldry and Professor William Ledger co-host a weekly podcast remotely from their homes in isolation, interviewing experts on women’s wellbeing in the COVID 19 pandemic.

  • Episode 1 
    In our first episode, we hear from Associate Professor Adrienne Torda with co-host Professor William Ledger, on the impact of COVID-19 on frontline healthcare workers, the majority of which are women.
  • Episode 2
    In this episode, we hear from Professor Jackie Leach Scully with co-host Professor Eileen Baldry, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of women with disability. 
  • Episode 3
    In this episode, we hear from Dr Amanda Henry with co-host Professor William Ledger, on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women.
  • Episode 4
    In this episode, we hear from Dr Ruth McCausland with co-host Professor Eileen Baldry, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of women in the criminal justice system.
  • Episode 5
    In this episode, we hear from Annie Madden with co-host Professor Bill Ledger, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of women living with addiction.
  • Episode 6
    In this episode, we hear from Dr Sarah Cook with co-host Professor Eileen Baldry, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of women in development contexts.
  • Episode 7
    In this episode, we hear from Professor Kaarin Anstey with co-host Professor William Ledger, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of ageing women.
  • Episode 8
    In this episode, we hear from Professor Jan Breckenridge with co-host Professor Eileen Baldry, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of women experiencing domestic and family violence.
  • Episode 9
    In this episode, we hear from Dr Amanda Henry with co-host Professor William Ledger, on the impact of COVID-19 on childbirth and beyond.
  • Episode 10
    In this special 45 minute episode, we hear from Hasnah Hussin, Najeeba Wazefadost, Dr Linda Bartolomei and Adjunct Associate Professor Eileen Pittaway with co-host Professor Eileen Baldry, on the impact of COVID-19 on refugee and migrant women.
  • Episode 11
    In this  episode, we hear from Professor Hal Pawson with co-host Professor William Ledger, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of homeless women.
  • Episode 12
    In this  episode, we hear from Eloise Brook with co-host Professor Eileen Baldry, on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of trans and gender diverse women

Resources

Membership

If you could like to become a member of the Academy and you work or study at UNSW, please email Lily Halliday with the following information. 

  • your name and/or your group’s title and a contact email address
  • the relevance of your work to the wellbeing of women
  • how your work might benefit the wellbeing of women over the next decade
  • how you believe the Academy can make a contribution locally, nationally and internationally

 

Contact

For more information about the Academy or to subscribe to receive updates about the Academy, please email Lily Halliday, Project Manager, UNSW Women’s Wellbeing Academy at lily.halliday@unsw.edu.au.