Working for Women Research Partnership
The Working for Women Research Partnership brings together a national team of 27 academics in collaboration with the Australian Government’s Office for Women, to generate the evidence base needed to inform government policy, industry practice and workplace design that advances gender equality across Australia, under Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality.
The academic consortium is led by Professor Rae Cooper AO and Professor Elizabeth Hill at the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with Professor Nareen Young at the Centre for Indigenous People and Work at UTS, and Associate Professor Brendan Churchill at the University of Melbourne. From 2025-2030, our team are conducting deep research that leverages decades of interdisciplinary expertise to build collaboration and engagement across universities, industry, unions and the community sector.
Research themes and cohorts
The Partnership’s research explores how workers and workplaces can contribute to shared government goals such as stronger workforce participation, improved productivity and inclusive growth. Research is organised around a set of priority themes that reflect the focus of the Strategy and respond to where evidence is most needed.
Each year, research themes and cohort groups are confirmed in advance to ensure the work remains relevant to emerging government, community and industry priorities, and complements existing research across the sector.
For this first cycle of the partnership the theme is flexible work and the cohort is women aged 40 to 55.
Methodology
Annual National Survey
Each year we conduct the Australian Workplace Gender Equality Survey (AWGES), which captures the experiences of more than 5,000 Australian employees, self-employed and unemployed people aged 18 to 70.
This nationally representative survey includes booster samples of groups often under-represented in labour market data, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, LGBTQIA+ people, migrants and people who speak languages other than English.
Focus Groups
As part of the qualitative component of the research, we conduct online focus groups and discussion boards. In year one, we collected data from almost 400 Australian ‘mid-years’ women, aged between 40 to 55.
Yarning Circles
Designed, managed, facilitated and analysed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers from the UTS Centre for Indigenous People and Work, we annually collect data and insights from First Nations women to address critical gaps in existing data.
Annual Research Outputs
Thematic and Cohort Working Papers
Explores critical issues shaping economic and workforce participation and provides detailed insights into key population groups.
Actionable Insights Report
Synthesises findings across the thematic and cohort papers, offering clear, data-informed proposals for stakeholder action to drive structural change.
Connect with us
at the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work
