Begun in September 1996 as a University-funded program, WiL encourages UNE women in seeking skills and opportunities for promotion into higher academic and general administration levels. The program has included shadowing activities and a project for the WiL participants, as well as a Public Speakers Series. By examining and acting upon strategies to promote an inclusive environment, WiL's public forums address issues of class and race as well as gender, and strives for success not only of the select few, but for women from all community sectors. This is the pool of the Australian workforce. UNE can celebrate and utilise this diversity, uncover new perspectives, tap into different knowledge and experience - or it can resist change and continue with the traditional hierarchical approach which cuts women and other groups out of leadership and limits overall perspective.
Recent studies show that university structures are geared towards men.
UNE has a gender gap which is particularly apparent among academic staff. While academic women comprise 28 per cent of the workforce, only nine per cent are in positions above the level of Senior Lecturer. Although the position of women is slowly improving at UNE, there are still many barriers to their progress. This is the reason for establishing the UNE WiL program and for promoting women in leadership. Due to budgetary constraints, funding is now no longer available and WiL continues into 1998 as a Speakers Series only, dependent on individual support to further its program of encouraging and promoting women by providing access to successful, high profile leaders.