We’re committed to promoting gender equality and creating a workplace where every staff member is recognised and rewarded fairly.

This year we’ve further reduced our gender pay gap. Our median gender pay gap in total remuneration is 1.7 percent (down from 1.8 percent last year). Our median base salary pay gap is 2.7 percent (down from 3 percent). Our pay gap remains lower than the higher education sector average of 5.6 percent for median total remuneration and 4.7 percent for median base salary, according to WGEA data.

We continue to foster equality, diversity and inclusion through initiatives that support equitable pay and promotion, inclusive leadership, career development and flexible working.

As one of the first universities in the world to admit women on equal terms with men in 1881, we’re proud of our history of leadership in this area – and determined to build on our legacy. We’ll continue this essential work to achieve long-term change at the University and throughout our society.

Initiatives and programs 

Leadership programs

Programs such as the Sydney Women's Leadership Program and the Vice-Chancellor’s Sponsorship Program for culturally diverse women aim to increase representation of women at all levels.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Community and Leadership

Professor Lucy Marshall has been appointed as our inaugural Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Community and Leadership), a role established to provide strategic direction on University culture, leadership, and diversity, equity and inclusion agendas. Under Professor Marshall’s leadership, the University is developing a Community and Leadership roadmap following consultation with staff and stakeholders.

Research

The Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work, led by Professors Rae Cooper and Elizabeth Hill, is at the forefront of research into equal pay and the gender pay gap.

SAGE program

We promote equality, diversity and inclusion across all schools, faculties and professional service units through the Athena Swan Science in Australia Gender Equity program (SAGE), which assesses gender and intersectional equity policies and helps develop ways to promote and retain staff and students from typically marginalised groups. The University received a SAGE Athena SWAN Bronze Award in 2019, and five SAGE Cygnet Awards last year, demonstrating progress and impact from our Bronze Action Plan. We're now progressing towards the SAGE Silver award.

RISE

In 2023, we joined the RISE Project, an initiative to break down workplace barriers and build pathways to leadership for culturally and racially marginalised women across Australia. The project is a collaboration between Diversity Council Australia, Settlement Services International and Chief Executive Women. It is funded by the Australian Government Office for Women through the Women’s Leadership and Development Program 2022-2026.

A summary of the University's median gender pay gap for 2024–2025 has been published on the WGEA website. Results can be viewed via the WGEA Data Explorer tool under 'Employer Results' (select University of Sydney).