ACU sponsors conference for women

Australian Catholic University (ACU) was a sponsor at the recent Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW) conference held in Sydney. The theme of the conference was “Women Building Sustainable Futures”.

Dr Anne Tolan, senior lecturer in the School of Psychology from the University’s Brisbane Campus, attended on behalf of ACU.

“AFUW is a not-for-profit, voluntary organisation of university women graduates who work for the advancement of women and girls through education,” Dr Tolan said. “The conference was a great opportunity to meet like-minded women who were an inspiration and hear from some wonderful speakers including the Governor General Quentin Bryce, Governor of New South Wales Professor Marie Bashir, Professor Mary Crock, Ms Marie Persson, Ms Caroline Pidcock, and Professor Lesley Hughes.”

AFUW members participate at both national and local level in activities such as setting up projects to assist women, advocating on women’s issues, especially in the spheres of Education and Human Rights, and fundraising for fellowships, scholarships and prizes, awarded mainly in the area of higher education both nationally and through the Federation’s State and Territory Associations.

Founded in 1922 to unite the associations of university women graduates in Australia, AFUW is one of 79 national affiliates of the International Federation of University Women, whose members are present in 120 countries.