Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health (SMAH) at the University of Wollongong values diversity and aims to be an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place to work and study. We embrace the University of Wollongong's commitment to principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We recognise that our continued excellence in research and education can only be achieved by attracting and retaining a diverse blend of staff and students.

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which the University of Wollongong is situated and to Indigenous staff and students who study and work among us. We pay our respects to Aboriginal Elders past and present, who are the knowledge holders and teachers. We acknowledge their continued spiritual and cultural connection to Country. As we share knowledge, teaching, learning and research within this Faculty we also pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever within the Aboriginal Custodianship of Country.

We strive to be welcoming and supportive of all staff and students regardless of gender and sexual identity, ethnic and cultural background, disability, age, family/carer responsibilities, economic background, political affiliation, and religious belief. This commitment extends to all Faculty members: academic staff, professional staff, students and visitors.

We commit to an ongoing culture of improvement, applying best practice, measuring and reflecting on our progress, active pursuit of internal feedback, and promotion of these values within our Schools, Faculty, and University.

Working with staff and students from across the Faculty, the SMAH Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee will develop initiatives to support these principles. Details will be added to this page as initiatives are developed and implemented.

EDI feedback: share your ideas, issues, and successes


Our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy

The SMAH Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy defines our vision for what we want SMAH to be and the goals we need to accomplish to achieve this vision. The five overarching strategic goals will guide our actions, helping us to prioritise activities and ensure our actions lead to meaningful and agreed-upon outcomes across the Faculty.

Read the Strategy (PDF)
A diverse group of people at table with laptops

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Resources

For more information about the significance of each date, as well as any planned UOW events, please visit the UOW Inclusion Calendar.

Cultural & Religious Work-Restricted Holiday Dates: Avoid Major Meetings, Events, & Deadlines

Event Culture/Religion Annual Date 2023 Date Notes
Christmas (Eastern Orthodox) Eastern Orthodox Christian 7 Jan 7 Jan  
Chinese New Year Chinese heritage Varies 22 Jan  
Pesach/Passover (day 1) Jewish Varies 5-6 Apr Begins at sundown of first listed date
Easter Christian Varies 9 Apr Official public holiday
Easter (Eastern Orthodox) Eastern Orthodox Christian Varies 16 Apr Sunday
Eid al-Fitr Islamic Varies 21-22 Apr Begins at sundown of first listed date
Shavuot (day 1) Jewish Varies 25-26 May Begins at sundown of first listed date
Eid al-Adha Islamic Varies 28-29 Jun Begins at sundown of first listed date
Rosh Hashana Jewish Varies 15-16 Sep Begins at sundown of first listed date
Yom Kippur Jewish Varies 24-25 Sep Begins at sundown of first listed date
Sukkot (day 1) Jewish Varies 29-30 Sep Begins at sundown of first listed date
Shmini Atzeret Jewish Varies 6-7 Oct Begins at sundown of first listed date
Diwali Hindu, Sikh, Jain Varies 12 Nov  
Christmas Christian 25 Dec 25 Dec Official public holiday

 

NOTE: This list is not exhaustive, and certainly doesn't highlight every important holiday for every faith!
It is intended to list the dates that observers of a given faith are likely to be away from work for religious/cultural reasons. These are dates when we should avoid scheduling major meetings, events, and deadlines to be inclusive. Other dates may also be important (and may affect staff/students, e.g. because they are fasting, have dietary restrictions, etc.) so it is always best to check with your team members to understand their needs.
 

Original Sources:

Dates, Practices & Accommodations, University of Missouri

Jewish Holidays to Consider When Scheduling Events   

For more information about the significance of each date, as well as any planned UOW events, please visit the UOW Inclusion Calendar.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

 

For more information about the significance of each date, as well as any planned UOW events, please visit the UOW Inclusion Calendar.

Multicultural and religious dates of significance by observer communities 

2023 Date

Event

Observers

Annual Date

Scheduling Considerations

01 January

New Years’ Day

Gregorian Calendar

01 January

 

01 January

Feast of St Basil

Eastern Orthodox Christian

01 January

 

02 January

Feast of St Basil

Roman Catholic Christian

02 January

 

05 January

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti (Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh)

Sikh

varies

 

06 January

Epiphany

Western Christians

06 January

 

06 January

Armenian Christmas

Armenian Apostolic Christian

06 January

 

07 January

Orthodox Christmas

Eastern & Oriental Orthodox Christians

07 January

 

07 January

Evangelical Christmas

Ethiopian & Eritrean Evangelical Christians

07 January

 

15 January – 18 January

Thai Pongal (Harvest Festival)

Tamil Hindu

varies, four days

 

19 January

Orthodox Epiphany

Eastern & Oriental Orthodox Christians

19 January

 

21 January – 23 January

Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year)

South Korea & Korean diaspora

varies, three days

 

22 January

Lunar New Year

East Asia & East Asian diaspora

varies

 

22 January – 31 January

Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year)

Vietnam & Vietnamese diaspora

varies, ten days

 

22 January – 5 February

Chinese Lunar New Year

China & Chinese diaspora

varies, fifteen days

 

25 January

Burns’ Night

Scotland & Scottish diaspora

25 January

 

26 January

Australia Day

Australia & Australian diaspora

26 January

The official selection of this date is controversial. Although the national celebration is to honour the contributions of all Australians,

 

 

 

 

the date itself is the anniversary of forced colonialisation.

26 January

Survival Day

Australian First Nations Peoples & Allies

26 January

anniversary of official Colonisation - 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Botany Bay

15 February

Parinirvana (Attainment Day)

Mahayana Buddhist

15 February

 

21 February

Shrove Tuesday

Western Christians

varies

 

21 February – 23 February

Losar (Tibetan Lunisolar New Year)

Tibet & Tibetan Buddhist

varies, three days

 

22 February

Ash Wednesday

Western Christians

varies

 

01 March

St David’s Day

Wales & Welsh diaspora

01 March

 

06 March

Makha Bucha (Gratitude Day)

Theravada Buddhist

varies

 

06 March – 07 March

Purim (Feast of Lots)

Jewish

varies, two days

fast sunrise to sundown on first day

08 March

Holi (Festival of Colours)

Hindu

varies

 

17 March

St Patrick’s Day

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland & Irish diaspora

17 March

 

21 March

Norouz (Persian Solar New Year)

Iran & Persian diaspora

varies

 

22 March – 20 April

Ramadan (Holy Month)

Muslim

varies, one month

fast sunrise to sundown

01 April

Kha b-Nisan (Assyrian & Chaldean New Year)

Assyrian diaspora & Chaldean diaspora

01 April

 

02 April

Palm Sunday

Western Christians

varies

 

05 April – 13 April

Pesach (Passover)

Jewish

varies, nine days

restricted work at the beginning and end of the celebration

06 April

Hanuman Jayanti (Birthday of Lord Hanuman)

Hindu

varies

 

06 April – 08 April

Theravadan New Year

Theravada Buddhist

varies, three days

 

06 April

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

Western Christians

varies

 

07 April – 10 April

Easter

Western Christians

varies, four days

 

08 April

Hana Matsuri (Flower Festival)

Japan & Japanese diaspora

varies

 

13 April – 16 April

Choul Chnam Thmey (Khmer Solar New Year)

Cambodia & Khmer diaspora

varies, four days

 

13 April – 16 April

Thingyan (Burmese Lunar New Year)

Myanmar & Burmese diaspora)

varies, four days

 

13 April – 17 April

Songkran (Thai Lunar New Year)

Thailand & Thai diaspora

varies, five days

 

14 April

Avurudu (Solar New Year)

Sri Lanka & Sinhalese diaspora

varies

 

14 April

Navavarsha (Nepalese Solar New Year)

Nepal & Nepalese diaspora

varies

 

14 April

Puthandu (Solar New Year)

Sri Lanka & Tamil diaspora

varies

 

14 April

Vaisakhi (Harvest Festival)

Sikh

varies

 

14 April – 16 April

Pii Mai (Lao Lunar New Year)

Laos & Lao diaspora)

varies, three days

 

15 April

Pohela Boishakh (Bengali Solar New Year)

Bengali Hindu, Bangladesh & Bangladeshi diaspora

varies

 

20 April – 02 May

Ridvan (Great Month)

Baha’i

varies, thirteen days

suspended work on the first, ninth & twelfth days

21 April – 22 April

Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan Fasting)

Muslim

varies, two days

 

23 May

Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Shaheedi Diwas (Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib)

Sikh

varies

 

23 April

St George’s Day

England, English diaspora & Anglican Christian

23 April

 

25 April

ANZAC Day

Australia, Australian diaspora, New Zealand & New Zealand diaspora

25 April

 

29 April

Hung Vuong (Hung Kings Festival)

Vietnam & Vietnamese diaspora

varies

 

18 May

Ascension of Christ

Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian & Methodist Christians

varies

 

20 May

Dehwa Daymaneh (Birthday of John the Baptist)

Mandaean diaspora

varies

 

24 May – 25 May

Declaration of Bab

Baha’i

varies, two days

 

25 May – 27 May

Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)

Jewish

varies, three days

suspended work during celebration

26 May – 02 June

Vesak (Buddha Day)

Buddhist

varies, eight days

 

27 May – 03 June

National Reconciliation Week

Australia

27 may – 03 June

reflection, celebration & discussion to build on respectful relationships between Australian First Nations Peoples and other Australians

28 May

Pentecost

Christian

varies

 

28 May – 29 May

Ascension of Baha’u’llah

Baha’i

varies, two days

suspended work during celebration

01 June

Orthodox Ascension of Christ

Eastern & Oriental Orthodox Christians

varies

 

26 June – 01 July

Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)

Muslim

varies, six days

 

28 June – 02 July

Eid al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)

Muslim

varies, five days

 

01 July

Coming of the Light Festival

Torres Strait Islanders

01 July

 

03 July

Asalha Puja (Commemoration of First Sermon)

Theravada Buddhist

varies

 

03 July – 09 July

NAIDOC Week

Australia

03 July – 09 July

celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture & achievements

11 July – 13 July

Naadam (Festival of Mongolian Tradition)

Mongolia & Mongolian diaspora

11 July – 13 July

 

14 July

Matariki (Maori Lunar New Year)

New Zealand & Maori diaspora

varies

 

19 July

Al Hijri (Islamic Lunar New Year)

Muslim

varies

 

27 July – 28 July

Ashura (Day of Commemoration)

Sunni Muslim & Shia Muslim

varies, two days

 

15 August

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox & Oriental Orthodox Christians

varies

 

20 August – 31 August

Onam (Kerala State Harvest Festival)

Kerala India & Kerala diaspora

varies, twelve days

 

25 August

Australian South Sea Islanders National Day of Recognition

Australian South Sea Islanders

25 August

 

30 August

Raksha Bandhan (Bond of Protection)

Hindu

varies

 

07 September

Krishna Janmashtami (Birthday of Lord Krishna)

Hindu

varies

 

12 September

Enkutatash (Ethiopian/Eritrean New Year)

Ethiopia, Ethiopian diaspora, Eritrea & Eritrea diaspora

varies

 

12 September

Nayrouz (Coptic New Year)

Coptic Orthodox Christian

varies

 

15 September – 17 September

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

Jewish

varies, three days

suspended work during celebration

24 September – 25 September

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

Jewish

varies, two days

fast & suspended work sundown to sundown

26 September – 27 September

Mawlid Al-Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Muhammad)

Muslim

varies, two days

 

28 September – 30 September

Chuseok (Korean Mid-Autumn Festival)

South Korea & Korean diaspora

varies, three days

 

29 September

Tsukimi (Japanese Mid-Autumn Festival)

Japan & Japanese diaspora

varies

 

02 October

Gandhi Jayanti (Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi)

India & Indian diaspora

02 October

 

07 October - 08 October

Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah)

Jewish

varies

suspended work during celebration

15 October – 24 October

Navaratri (Victory of Good over Evil)

Hindu

varies

 

01 November

All Saints Day

Western Christians

01 November

 

11 November

Remembrance Day

Commonwealth Member Countries

11 November

 

12 November

Bandi Chhor Diwas (Celebration of Freedom)

Sikh

varies

 

12 November

Diwali (Festival of Lights)

Hindu, Jain, Sikh

varies

 

15 November

Bhai Dooj (Blessing of Protection)

Hindu

varies

some Hindu denominations fast on this day

27 November

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayanti (Birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib)

Sikh

varies

 

27 November – 28 November

Ascension of Abdu’l Baha

Baha’i

27 November – 28 November

 

28 November

Loy Krathong (Festival of Lights)

Thailand & Thai diaspora

varies

 

30 November

St Andrew’s Day

Scotland, Scottish diaspora & Western Christians

30 November

 

03 December

First Sunday of Advent

Western Christians

varies

 

07 December – 15 December

Chanukah (Festival of Lights)

Jewish

varies

 

08 December

Bodhi Day

Buddhist

varies

 

13 December

Andermas (Feast of St Andrew)

Eastern Orthodox Christians

13 December

 

17 December

Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas (Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib)

Sikh

varies

 

25 December

Christmas

Western Christians

25 December

 

Pride Network details by Role and Unit

Name, location and contact details

Role at UOW

Unit

Ali Kimbrough (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Early Career Researcher (also Circus and Yoga instructor outside of academia)

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Aimee Silla (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Academic

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Alex Chan (he/him)
Liverpool Campus
Phone: (02) 8763 6019

Lecturer 

School of Nursing

Brooke Conroy (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

PhD Candidate

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Clare Johnson (she/her)
Office: 32.323
02 4221 5418
Wollongong Campus

Senior Technical Officer (also first aid officer and mental health contact)

SMAH Research Infrastructure Support Unit (RISU)

Clare Murphy (she/her)
office: 18.221
Wollongong Campus

Academic

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Diana King (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Deputy Program Manager

Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future ARC SRI (SAEF)

Evangelos Pappas (he/him)
Wollongong Campus

Professor and Associate Dean

intoHealth

Georgia Watson (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Research Assistant

Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future ARC SRI (SAEF)

Harriet Simpson-Southward she/her 
Wollongong Campus 

PhD Candidate

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Helen Pratt (she/her)
02 4448 0892
Bega Valley Campus

Academic

School of Nursing

Jenny Fisher (she/her)
02 4221 5484
Wollongong Campus

Academic

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Kelly Lambert (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Academic Program Director (Nutrition and Dietetics)

School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences (MIHS)

Kerry Dawes (she/her)
Wollongong Hospital

Clinical Lecturer

Graduate School of Medicine

Kristy Blackburn (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Honours Administration & Professional Officer

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Laura Mothersdill (she/her)
02 4221 5674 (office)
02 4221 3203 (prep)
Wollongong Campus

Senior Technical Officer and Team Leader

School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience (SCMB)

Liz Halcomb (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Academic

School of Nursing

Martina Sanderson-Smith (she/her)
02 4298 1935
Wollongong Campus

Academic

School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience (SCMB)

Megan Thomas (they/them)
Wollongong Campus

Regional Academic Leader & GP (also Associate Head of School, EDI)

Graduate School of Medicine

Nicholas Deutscher (he/him)
Wollongong Campus

Academic

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Siobhan Heatwole (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

PhD Candidate

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Suzy Bowdler (she/her)
Sutherland Campus

Academic

School of Nursing

Yasmine Probst (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Academic (also Associate Head of School, EDI)

School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences (MIHS)

Anne McMahon (she/her) Wollongong Campus

Head of Students

School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences (MIHS)

Arjun Radhakrishnan
(he/him)
Innovation Campus

PCOC Technical Support Officer

PCOC (Formerly AHSRI)

Joel Craddock (he/him)
Wollongong Campus

Academic

School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences (MIHS)

Megan Kelly (she/her)
Wollongong Campus

Academic and Head of Students

School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences (MIHS)

Jason Aquilina
(he/him)
02 4239 2275
Wollongong Campus

Senior Manager Research Operations

SMAH Office

Chiara Lyon
(she/they)
Wollongong Campus

Faculty Engagement Coordinator

SMAH Office

UOW Pride Network

Equity Diversity and Inclusion Calendar

Embrace a journey of inclusivity and ignite meaningful conversations. Learn of upcoming celebrations and vital acknowledgments through our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Calendar. Save the dates that resonate with you, and join the movement towards a more empowered and inclusive society.

Celebrate and reflect: Browse our UOW Inclusion Calendar

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Contacts