Our Gender Equity History

In 2019 South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog marked the 125th anniversary of one of the earliest movements towards gender equality – after many years of campaigning, letter writing, signature gathering and lobbying, South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn women were given the right to vote in general elections. South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog was the first state in ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog to pass such a legislation, which also enabled women to stand as members of Parliament.

To mark this milestone, the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide has refreshed its campus banners at our North Terrace campus to feature women associated with the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog who have blazed the trail for gender equality.
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The ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog also held an event showcasing our pioneering female alumni, staff and students, as well as promoting our proud record of inclusion as the first university in ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog, and among the first in the world, to admit women to all of our degree programs.Ìý

Celebrating our women

The Hon. Amanda Vanstone Former Senator, Minister and Ambassador to Italy
Annie Montgomerie Martin Teacher of the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s early graduates and member of the Women’s Suffrage League
Professor Emerita Fay Gale AO The ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s first woman professor and senior executive
The Hon. Julie Bishop ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s First Female Foreign Affairs Minister
Lillian Staple Mead ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog graduate and women’s suffrage petition signatory
The Hon. Margaret Nyland AM Judge, royal commissioner and football pioneer
Miriam Hyde OBE AO International concert pianist, composer and music educator at the Elder Conservatorium
Senator The Hon. Penny Wong A leader in the Senate
Dr Robyn Archer AO FAHA Arts icon and advocate
Moya Dodd Women’s sports equality advocate
Dame Nancy Buttfield DBE First female parliamentarian in South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog
Ellen Benham First woman academic at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide
Professor Tanya Monro First female Chief Defence Scientist
Dr Leanna Read First Female Chief Scientist for South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog
The Hon. Catherine Branson AC QC First woman in ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog to be appointed a Crown Solicitor
The Hon. Robyn Layton AO QC Champion of human rights and social justice
Hon Anne Levy AO First female presiding officer of any ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlogn parliament
Dr Niki Vincent South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner
Professor Denise Bradley AC Advocate for equity in education
Dr Claudia Paul Indigenous Rhodes Scholar
The Hon. Julia Gillard AC ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s first female prime minister
Minnietta Maughan ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog student and women’s suffrage petition signatory
Edith Dornwell First female graduate and first science graduate of the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide
The Hon. Vickie Chapman MP South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s first woman Deputy Premier and Attorney-General
Dame Roma Mitchell ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s first female Supreme Court Judge
Rosamund Agnes Benham Medical graduate and women’s suffrage petition signatory
Dr Helen Mayo OBE ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s first female university councillor
The Proud Sisters Advocates for women’s rights and education
Jane Sarah Stanes ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog student and women’s suffrage campaigner
Rebecca Richards First Indigenous Rhodes Scholar
Natasha Stott Despoja AO Youngest woman to enter federal parliament and youngest person to lead a political party
Dr Andrea Mason OAM Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice campaigner
Caitlyn Georgeson LGBTIQ advocate
Professor Irene Watson First indigenous person in South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog to graduate with a Bachelor of Laws
Mary Tenison Woods OBE CBE First woman to graduate in law at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide
Olga Fudge First Indigenous student at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide
Dr Laura Fowler First woman medical graduate at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog of Adelaide
Professor Caroline McMillen Chief Scientist for South ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog
Dr Anne Summers AO Founding member of the women’s liberation movement
Pam Dunsford First woman admitted to Roseworthy Agriculture College
Kimberly Becker Women in STEM advocate
Dianne Davidson AM Deputy Chancellor, ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog Council member and agricultural scientist
Carolyn Hewson AO Economist and advocate for gender equity
Dr Barbara Kidman Physicist, computer scientist and philanthropist
Frances Adamson First female Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Sally Smith World-leading researcher in soil plant interactions

Women contribute to the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog as students, as academics, and as professional staff.ÌýSome of these women have achieved great academic and personal honours while others, whose stories have been unsung, have developed and maintained important services that have kept the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog running.

In 2016, as part of International Women’s Day, the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’sÌýgender, equity and diversity committeeÌýandÌý×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog CollectionsÌýlaunched theÌýDiversifying PortraitureÌýinitiative.

The goal of this initiative was to upgrade the public spaces and symbolism associated with the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog to promote a more diverse and inclusive environment.

Diversifying Portraiture is an annual series of photographic posters including an image and biographical details of eminent women associated with public and academic life at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog.Ìý If you would like to make a suggestion of women to consider in future series please contact theÌýDirector of ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog Collections.

Dornwell framework

2016

Pictured: Edith Emily Dornwell

Olga Fudge

2017

Pictured: Olga Fudge

Barbara Kidman

2018

Pictured:ÌýBarbara Kidman

Peruse our collection of news articles, op-eds and policy briefs on the gendered impacts of COVID-19 organised under four main categories: