Anna Stewart program

Who was Anna Stewart?

Anna Stewart was an active Victorian union official and long-time campaigner for women’s rights. When Anna entered the industrial arena women made up one third of the paid work force, usually in unskilled or semi-skilled positions. They were poorly paid, lacked job security and satisfaction and rarely had access to promotional opportunities.

She worked tirelessly to devise ways of involving women directly in deciding on the principles and priorities to put to unions and government that would help them achieve real equality of status and opportunity. In less than a decade, working in the union movement, Anna developed a radical re-evaluation of the rights of female labour. This led to a fundamental re-appraisal of women’s issues throughout the union movement.

Anna worked as both a research and industrial officer for a number of unions from 1974 to 1983, when she died tragically at the age of 35. She campaigned during the 1970s to ensure that both the union movement and employers began to recognise the needs of working women. She focused on areas such as maternity leave and childcare facilities and headed up a campaign to draw attention to sexual harassment as a form of exploitation of women.

What is the Anna Stewart Memorial Project?

After Anna’s death, a number of her trade union friends and colleagues met to determine the most appropriate means by which her work and life could be remembered. This was felt to be particularly appropriate in light of statistics that showed that, despite the large numbers of women joining trade unions, women were still under-represented in decision making structures.

In 1986 the Anna Stewart Program was conceived and established as an annual on-the-job training program for women unionists, to provide a unique level of awareness of the way unions can work in our society. This program is an affirmative action program aimed at developing the skills, knowledge and confidence of women members and empowering them to be actively involved in Federation in their workplace, local association or state level.

The Anna Stewart committee consists of six female Federation members who are elected each year at February Council. This committee is responsible for the selection of successful applicants. The DET supports the Anna Stewart Program.

How does the Federation’s Anna Stewart Program Work?

There are two variations on the Anna Stewart Program. They are:

1: The two week program – There are up to sixteen positions available during Term 2 and Term 3 (usually run around Federation Councils).

2: The full term program – One position available during Term 4 each year
You are required to undertake a ‘project’ based on one of the priorities listed below and provide a 500 word outline of your project. You are also encouraged to be involved with a priority Federation campaign as developed at Annual Conference.

The priorities set by the Anna Stewart Committee for 2011 are:
• Working on content for the Federation website.
• Preparing appropriate material for the Women’s Contact Kit.
• Conducting campaign research on either Paid Parental Leave or International Women’s Day – information, events, material or kits.
• Creating resources for Trade Union Training or resource kits
• Performing tasks associated with current Research Officers work.

Who is eligible?

All financial women members of the Federation.

How do you nominate?

1. Phone and request an application form from the Women’s Coordinator. You will need to indicate if you are interested in either a two week position or term position.
2. Applications are available on the website link or
3. Request an Application form from your Association President or Secretary.

The application form requires you to indicate the Federation experience you have had, e.g. positions held, attending Federation meetings, conferences, trade union training and participation in campaigns.

The nomination form must be signed by either your Federation Representative, Women’s Contact, President, Secretary or Association Organiser.

The two week position also requires a short statement outlining what you hope to achieve by being involved in the program. The selection criteria for the term positions is a written submission of no more than 500 words about a project that relates to a Federation priority set by the Anna Stewart Committee.

Will you be paid?

Yes. If you are permanent, permanent part-time or working in a temporary position, e.g., one term, then Federation will pay the cost of casual relief and the DET or TAFE Institute will continue to pay you.

If you are working as a day-to-day school casual teacher or TAFE part-time casual teacher, Federation will pay for any work that you were booked to do but were unable to take up due to your participation in this program.

For Corrective Services and Board of Studies, similar arrangements will be made.

Is accommodation provided?

Do not let your location in relation to Sydney prevent you from nominating for the Anna Stewart Program. Country members are encouraged to nominate, and if selected Federation will provide accommodation within close proximity to Federation House.

Hours of Duty?

Anna Stewart participants could be required to attend meetings or events outside of administration hours and there is an expectation that participants attend Council on the middle Saturday of the program to maximise your learning experience.

Other issues such as childcare should be discussed with the Women’s coordinator.

What do Anna Stewart Temporary Officers do?

As an Anna Stewart Officer you will be given the opportunity to work with a range of Federation officers to develop an understanding of the processes and practices in our dealings with the DET and observe Federation campaigns.

You will have the opportunity to:
• attend meetings with the Department (and other organisations)
• attend school and association meetings
• observe cases in the Industrial Commission
• prepare journal articles and research issues of concern to women
• attend other unions meetings – such as Unions NSW
• work alongside substantive officers of the Federation.

So if you think this is the program for you, please consider applying for one of the available positions.