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Dr LukeMothers andbabies benefitfrom faciltiesNecessity was the mother ofinvention, literally, for Dr HaidaLuke and her breastfeedingnetworking group.Last January, while inquiring aboutbreastfeeding facilities for her secondchild at the UQ St Lucia campus, DrLuke was told there was no information.So the senior research fellow setout to improve conditions for mothersand became the voluntary coordinatorof the Breastfeeding NetworkingGroup, UQBfNG.“Since I’ve started the UQBfNGI have been available by email asinitial contact point for informationrelating to UQ for breastfeeding staffand students,” Dr Luke said.She does not provide medicalinformation but said breastfeedingbenefited society because it helpedfamilies, reduced parental sick leaveand improved the health of babies.Her volunteer work earned her the$5000 Vice-Chancellor’s Equity andDiversity individual award duringDiversity Week.She said the money would pay forUQ to apply for accreditation with theAustralian Breastfeeding Associationas a breastfeeding-friendly workplace.Accreditation would involve areview of UQ’s facilities and policiessuch as family friendly policies,designated breastfeeding rooms and“Come Back Packs” for mothers andfathers.“I’m delighted that the Universityis recognising a modern workplace andmodern needs of families who are alsokey workers in the University,” she said.“Supporting women in the workplacewho are breastfeeding oftenenables them to return to work earlier.“It’s in line with modern practicesof taking care of valued employees.”Dr Luke is now back at work parttimewith the Centre of NationalResearch on Disability andRehabilitation Medicine nursing herthird child.12Variety’s virtuesvaluedfrom page 11“Hats off to the University forthis program. It’s like a mini-United Nations,” Mr Kelly said.He drew on his experienceswith Northern Ireland’s GoodFriday Agreement and theEuropean Union (EU) to speakabout diversity.“Events in Europe and NorthernIreland during the last centuryexemplify the utter futility ofAmbassador Kellyintolerance and disharmony and howthis situation can be totally transformedwhen these are replaced byembracing tolerance, understandingand diversity,” Mr Kelly said.He said making peace through theGood Friday Agreement had beenharder than war but people alwaysshared common ideals.“It may sound trite, there is muchmore that unites us all in this worldthan divides us, but the difficulty isat times is just trying to reach outthere and find it,” he said.“By breaking down the barriersbetween different groups we all begin’............Hats off to theUniversity for thisprogram. It’s like a’mini-United Nationsto see that. . . we’re all looking for thesame thing.“If we’re parents, we want the bestthings for our children. If we’restudying we want to pass our exams.“It doesn’t really matter where wecome from, we just all want to getsomewhere and it makes a heck of alot more sense to do it together.”He said the EU was the “greatestantidote to war” but being an EUmember had not taken away Irishculture, sovereignty or sentiment.“You’ll find that we are no lessIrish than we were 30 years ago eventhough we have thoroughly embracedeverything about Europe,” he said.“By embracing diversity we havebecome better for it.“It makes such eminent sense toembrace diversity. The tragedy is thatwe don’t do enough of it.”The aim of Diversity Week,celebrated at all UQ campuses fromMay 10-14, was to raise awarenessabout diversity in the community andissues such as disability, sexuality,culture and language, religion,gender, family, and racism.Allies build gay safe zonesUQ took another step to weed out homophobicharassment on campus by launching theALLY program during Diversity Week.The safety and awareness programsupports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgenderand intersex (LGBT/I) staff and students byidentifying “safe zones” around theUniversity.Staff who wish to be allies attend a shorttraining seminar, are given information to supportstudents and staff and display the ALLY rainbow triangleat their workspace to signify a safe zone.The aim is to stop shame, fear and ignorance on UQcampuses.UQ Union’s queer sexuality resources organiser KrisCoonan said while many high schools already had similarsexuality programs, UQ was only the second Australianuniversity to adopt such a program.Ms Coonan said some staff at the St Lucia andIpswich campuses were interested in becoming allies butshe could not say how many would attend untiltraining next semester.She said the ALLY program was UQ’s firststep against homophobia and heterosexismbut she wanted more staff educated aboutLGBT/I issues.The ALLY program was launched byDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) ProfessorMargaret Gardner and UQ Union PresidentMargot Balch at a forum in the Social Sciences andHumanities Library Conference Room, St Lucia, on May12.UQ Union’s queer sexuality officers Alex Main andKenny Lim and Ms Coonan shared their experiences atthe forum.Professor Gardner said the University had toenlighten, give voice to diversity and difference and buildethical and social understanding.She said the Ally program was a step towards this end.UQ NEWS, june 2004